Gum tissue graph before or after braces?

[tim718]

Hi, I am 28 years old and am ready to have braces applied.  I will need them for about 24 months.  About one year ago I had scaling and root planning done.  I visited my periodontist the other day and was told I will need to have soft gum tissue graphs done on 3 lower teeth.  I have 3 questions:

1) Should I get the graphs before or after braces are applied?

2) Is Alloderm worth it to use for the gum graphs to offset the pain associated with removing tissue from my palate?  

3) Are the long term effects of Alloderm the same as using my own gum tissue from my palate, i.e. will the gum recede again back to where it was before after a couple years (I read that somewhere)?  

Thank you very much!

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

I think you would be better off having the grafts done after the ortho. I am not a periodontist and do not have the experience to give you an answer to your questions. I think these should be directed to your periodontist.