Gum recession affects people for many reasons, but the treatments for this issue can be limiting. Gum recession can cause long term problems to your teeth. These include deterioration of the root structure, pain and sensitivity to eating or drinking certain foods, and higher chance for cavities. For most individuals, gum grafting is the only solution for gum recession. However, gum grafting may not be the best for certain cases. For one, people may not be willing to commit to the amount of time needed for sufficient healing of gum tissue. Others may feel uncomfortable about utilizing your own gums from another area in your mouth.
If you are looking for something that doesn’t involve the use of your own tissue, then consider Alloderm Reverse Tunneling (ART). This can offer a viable alternative to traditional gum grafting. To learn more about this treatment, keep reading this post from a periodontist in Frisco!
What is ART?
ART is designed to utilize today’s modern gingival grafting techniques with the healing benefits similar to that of human tissues.
How Did ART Come to Be?
Since periodontal therapies have continued to evolve, they’ve improved dramatically and been more and more capable of solving gum recession without pushing patients into a corner. ART has become one of those variations thanks to ongoing research on periodontal treatments and how they can be performed more effectively.
How Does it Differ from Traditional Grafting?
ART allows periodontists to use a simplified set of tools when performing treatment. It also allows the use of bidirectional tunneling to improve tissue mobility and graft insertion, making it easier to complete grafting and reduce the risks of nicks, tears or perforations from occurring. Additionally, ART provides maximum access inside the gums, making it easier to navigate and place new grafting material in areas where it’s needed.
Who Can Benefit from ART?
One of the most common issues people have with gum grafting is the fear that they’ll need to use existing gum tissue to complete treatment. With ART, no secondary surgical site is needed to retrieve usable gum tissue because Alloderm uses freeze-dried cadaver tissue. Performing treatment with this tissue has been proven to be equivalent to the use of palatal connective tissue (which is traditional for most gum grafts) in terms of root coverage outcome.
Furthermore, ART is a great option for those who are worried about the recovery time associated with gum grafting. Individuals can expect a faster recovery time overall, making it ideal for working professionals with busy schedules.
Finally, if you’re the type of person to be fearful of gum grafting because of the possibility of discomfort, you can rest knowing that ART is meant to be easier on sensitive gum tissue compared to traditional grafting.
If you’re looking for an alternative to restorative periodontal therapies like gum grafting, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment for your next gum graft in Frisco!
About the Author
Dr. Zachary A. Carnow’s advanced training allows him to navigate even the most complex gum disease cases. He’s fully qualified to perform treatments like ART and more than happy to answer any questions you have about the treatment. To learn if ART is right for you or about his practice’s other periodontal treatments, you can contact him through his website.