Autograft vs Donor Graft
Gum grafting is a necessary procedure for many people who experience advanced tissue recession. It is a very common condition, and thus the procedure is extremely common with very high success rates. However, as you consider addressing your own gum recession, you may begin to wonder about the difference between your own tissue and donated tissues like AlloDerm.
What causes Gum Tissue Recession?
Gum tissue recession is usually a byproduct of advanced gum infection. As bacteria enters the gumline, it attacks the blood transport layer by destroying healthy tissue. Bacteria enters the blood stream and causes infection; destroying more tissue, causing pain, and making the patient sick.
Why Gum Tissue Grafting?
Tissue grafting allows doctors to reinforce the area with new tissue structures and new pathways for the blood transport layer. This allows a refresh of available healthy tissue, healthy blood flow, and strengthening support structures for the teeth. Tissue grafts can also provide protection for exposed tooth roots, saving patients from very painful shocks along the tooth root.
What is an Autograft?
Auto means self, so Autografts are tissues which are derived from the self. Usually the tissue is harvested from within the patients mouth around plentiful tissue areas, like the oof of the mouth. The tissue is your own, and is thus very compatible once placed. This allows you to retain coloration, but does require a secondary incision.This creates a secondary space within the patients mouth which must be monitored for infection, and requires additional recovery time.
Donor Graft
Donor grafts are tissue grafts which utilize donated tissue. This allows doctors to address multiple spaces for grafting in a timely manner, without concern over how much and where to harvest tissues. This also allows for patients who do not have an abundance of tissue to address areas which require grafting or reinforcement.
The donated tissues go through a very strict requirement and processing procedure to ensure maximum compatibility and highest chance of tissue assimilation. These tissues are harvested from healthy sources and have been used in millions of grafts throughout the world, with an almost negligible recorded evidence of viral or bacterial disease inheritance
What are the Benefits and Cons of Autograft Vs Donor Grafts?
Autografts feature your own tissue. This means they have a very high chance of matching coloration and assimilating with existing tissue structures. However, this also means harvesting from the patient, and some patients with advanced gum recession or history of gum grafts may not have a plentiful amount available.
Donor Grafts are donated tissues, which are processed for compatibility. This allows them to treat larger areas or more small areas of recession easily in one session. However they are not as useful for multiple tooth replacement grafts, and do have a very small chance of interfering with existing blood transport structures.
Which is right for you?
The only people who can answer this question are you and your doctor. Begin the process with an examination, cleaning, restorative hygiene practices, and an honest discussion about grafting procedures.