Quantitative changes in palatal donor site thickness after free gingival graft harvesting: a pilot study

Clinical and histological comparison of healing by steel scalpel, diode laser, and radiofrequency in palatal wound: An animal study

Background

Wound healing following periodontal soft tissue procedures can differ owing to different techniques, the feasibility of which can be determined through detailed macroscopic and microscopic observations.

Aims

This study aimed to clinically and histologically evaluate palatal wound healing in rats by secondary intention after excision using a steel scalpel, diode laser, and radiofrequency.

Materials and Methods

An excision was made in the edentulous anterior maxilla of 42 4-month-old male Wistar rats weighing 289-428 g. Part of the connective tissue was left in the surgical area to observe the dynamics of secondary intention wound healing. Three experimental groups were established: the steel scalpel, an 810-nm diode laser at a power output of 1.5 W in continuous mode, and a monopolar radiofrequency in a fully rectified waveform at 15 W. Clinical and histological analyses were performed on days 2, 4, and 7. Hemostasis, changes in body weight, defect size, epithelial gap, and inflammatory infiltration were evaluated.

Results

The epithelial gap closed completely in all groups on day 7. Bleeding occurred significantly more in the scalpel group (P < 0.001). No significant changes were observed in body weight between the groups. Macroscopically, the mean wound area decreased over time in all groups. Wound healing was significantly slower in the laser group on day 2 and in the radiofrequency group on days 4 and 7 (P < 0.001). Microscopically, the laser created the cleanest wound area, with minimal inflammatory infiltration and no thermal injury. More damage occurred in the connective tissue of the radiofrequency group. Wound healing was observed on day 7 in all groups.

Conclusions

Palatal wound healing with secondary intention yielded different outcomes in a rat model when different techniques were used. However, almost complete healing was observed in all wounds, which highlights the importance of the soft tissue left in the surgical area. Wound healing in periodontal soft tissue procedures is not compromised by different techniques, as long as the clinician has sufficient knowledge and experience.

Wound healing dynamics, morbidity, and complications of palatal soft-tissue harvesting

Palatal-tissue harvesting is a routinely performed procedure in periodontal and peri-implant plastic surgery. Over the years, several surgical approaches have been attempted with the aim of obtaining autogenous soft-tissue grafts while minimizing patient morbidity, which is considered the most common drawback of palatal harvesting. At the same time, treatment errors during the procedure may increase not only postoperative discomfort or pain but also the risk of developing other complications, such as injury to the greater palatine artery, prolonged bleeding, wound/flap sloughing, necrosis, infection, and inadequate graft size or quality. This chapter described treatment errors and complications of palatal harvesting techniques, together with approaches for reducing patient morbidity and accelerating donor site wound healing. The role of biologic agents, photobiomodulation therapy, local and systemic factors, and genes implicated in palatal wound healing are also discussed.

Comparison of hyaluronic acid, hypochlorous acid, and flurbiprofen on postoperative morbidity in palatal donor area: a randomized controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the effects of topical hyaluronic acid (HA), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and flurbiprofen on postoperative morbidity of palatal donor sites after free gingival graft (FGG) surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty patients requiring FGG were randomly assigned into four groups: control, HA gel (600 mg/100 g high molecular weight hyaluronic acid), HOCl spray (170-200 ppm, ph7.1), flurbiprofen spray (0.075gr flurbiprofen). Topical agents were applied for 14 days, according to groups. Patients were followed for 28 days. Palatal healing was assessed with the Laundry wound healing index (WHI). Complete epithelization (CE) was evaluated with photographs and H₂O₂ bubbling. Pain, burning sensation, chewing efficacy, and tissue color match (CM) were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS). Postoperative analgesic consumption and delayed bleeding (DB) were also recorded.

RESULTS

HA provided better WHI values on the 7^th, 14^th, and 21^st days compared to the other groups, respectively (p < 0.05). CE was formed on the 21^st day in the HA group but on the 28^th day in the other groups. HOCl and flurbiprofen groups were not different from the control group or each other in terms of WHI. HOCl had the lowest VAS scores of all time periods. DB was not observed in any group. Significantly fewer analgesics were taken in the topical agent-applied groups compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

HA exhibits a positive impact on the epithelization of palatal wound healing and color matching. HOCl and flurbiprofen provided less pain; however, they might have negative effects on palatal wound healing.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

As a result of obtaining free gingival grafts from palatal tissue for mucogingival surgical procedures, secondary wound healing of the donor area occurs. This wound in the palatal region can cause discomfort and pain every time patients use their mouths. The use of HA can reduce postoperative complications by accelerating wound healing and reducing pain. The topical use of flurbiprofen and HOCl can reduce patients' pain.

The Impact of Corticosteroid Administration at Different Time Points on Mucosal Wound Healing in Rats: An Experimental Pilot In Vivo Study

Simple Summary

The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of corticosteroid (CS) administration at different time points on palatal wound healing in rats. Thirty-six young male rats were divided into three groups. The test groups were treated by CS in the early (1–4 days) and late (5–9 days) stages after palatal wounding, while the control group was left for spontaneous healing. Our findings do not support the positive impact of CS administration on palatal wound healing. While microscopically, we found no difference between the CS and control groups, CS exposure was associated with a macroscopically larger final wound area, reflecting a possible harmful effect of CS.

Abstract

Background: Conflicting results were found regarding the effect of corticosteroid (CS) administration upon wound healing. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of CS administration at different time points on palatal wound healing in rats. Methods: A 4.2 mm diameter punch created a secondary healing excisional palatal defect in thirty-six (36) Wistar-derived, two-month-old male rats weighing 250–270 g. We evaluated the effect of CS by comparing wound healing between three equal groups: 12 rats who were not exposed to CS and two additional groups in which 1 mg/kg dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) was administered daily, early (1–4 days) and late (5–9 days) after injury. The dynamics of the healing process were evaluated weekly in 4 sacrificed rats from each group for three weeks. The wound area was assessed both macroscopically and microscopically; the inflammation score was assessed microscopically. Results: The initial wound area in all the rats was 13.85 mm². At the end of the study, it decreased to 4.11 ± 0.88 mm², 7.32 ± 2.11 mm², and 8.87 ± 3.01 mm² in control, early, and late CS administration groups, respectively (p = 0.075). Inflammation scores showed a tendency to decrease in the third week in all groups, with no statistical differences. Conclusions: Our findings do not support the positive impact of CS administration on palatal wound healing. While microscopically, we found no difference between the CS and control groups, CS exposure was associated with a macroscopically larger final wound area, reflecting a possible harmful effect of CS.

A 3D Digital Analysis of the Hard Palate Wound Healing after Free Gingival Graft Harvest: A Pilot Study in the Short Term

Purpose: Within this context, this pilot study aimed to evaluate the healing dynamics process of the hard palate after free gingival graft harvesting in the short term (3 months), utilizing digital imaging technology and tridimensional analysis software. Furthermore, assessing the results found to verify the existence of a relationship between gender or age with tissue loss. Materials and Methods: For connective-tissue harvesting, fifteen patients with gingival recessions type (RT) 1 and RT2 were selected. On the surgery day (before the procedure) and after three months, palatal impressions were taken in all patients, and cast models were done for posterior model scanning. The following variables were analyzed: mean thickness alterations (x¯ TA), maximum thickness loss (MTL), mean maximum thickness loss (x¯ MTL), and volume alterations (VA). A descriptive and bivariate analysis of the data was done. The data were submitted for statistical evaluation and were significant if p < 0.05. Results: Fifteen patients were analyzed, 11 females (73.3%) and four males (26.7%). The patients’ average age was 28 ± 8.52 years (ranging between 16 and 48 years old). The palatal wound region’s mean thickness and volume changes were −0.26 mm (±0.31) and 46.99 mm3 (±47.47 mm3) at three months. There was no statistically significant result correlating age/gender with any variable evaluated. Conclusions: Connective tissue graft harvesting promoted changes with a standard volume and thickness loss of palatal soft tissue. A 3D digital evaluation was a non-invasive method with a reproducible technique for measuring thickness or volume after connective tissue is collected. There was no relationship between age/gender and any variables analyzed.

Age-Related Palatal Wound Healing: An Experimental In Vivo Study

We assessed age-related excisional palatal mucoperiosteal wound closure in rats. A 4.2 mm diameter punch was used to create a secondary healing defect in the palate of Wistar rats. Study group-21, 18-month-old vs. control 21, 2-month-old males. The 2-dimensional area, maximum length and width of the soft tissue defect served as clinical outcome parameters. The dynamics of the initial three healing weeks were assessed. Semi-quantitative histomorphometric analysis of inflammation and myofibroblasts served for the evaluation of the inflammatory and proliferative wound healing phases. Complete wound closure was faster in the old rats. A dimensional related wound closure was observed in the young rats versus a symmetrical wound closure in the old rats. Inflammatory response was significantly delayed and of lower intensity in the old rats. Myofibroblastic response, representing the proliferative stage, was delayed and of lower intensity in the old rats, albeit not statistically significant. Reduced initial tissue damage due to decreased and delayed inflammatory response in the old rats ultimately led to faster clinical wound healing compared to the young rats, despite a statistically non-significant lower proliferative response in the old rats.

The dynamics of closure following excisional mid-palatal mucoperiosteal wound in a rat model

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to assess macroscopically the time-related dimensional pattern of excisional palatal mucoperiosteal wound closure in rats, concomitantly with microscopic analysis of the density of inflammatory infiltrate and myofibroblasts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Excisional palatal wounds, 4.2 mm in diameter, were made in twenty-one 2-month-old male Wistar rats. The total area and anteroposterior/laterolateral dimensions of the wounds were measured macroscopically at 1, 2, and 3 weeks post-operatively. In addition, histomorphometry was used for assessment of the intensity of inflammation and density of myofibroblasts in the wound area.

RESULTS

A significant decrease was found in the total area and anteroposterior but not the laterolateral dimension of the wounds during the 2nd week. These changes were less prominent in the 3rd week. Three weeks post-operatively, the density of inflammatory infiltrate remained high in the central part of the wound concomitant with a significant increase in the number of myofibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that the second week was the most significant in wound closure, with wound contraction first occurring in an anteroposterior plane followed by the laterolateral plane. The increased inflammatory reaction and changes in the density of myofibroblasts may explain the macroscopic decrease in wound dimensions in a time-related manner.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

These findings emphasize the importance of the amount of soft tissue left at surgery, and suggest that the most appropriate time for the use of healing promoters would be the second post-operative week.

Topical simvastatin gel as a novel therapeutic modality for palatal donor site wound healing following free gingival graft procedure

OBJECTIVE

Autogenous soft-tissue grafting is a commonly used procedure nowadays in dentistry. However, the prolonged healing time needed for the donor site leads to increase the patient's pain and discomfort. Statin has been observed to be beneficial in reducing bacterial burden, improving epithelization and wound healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate intra-oral topical application of simvastatin/chitosan gel (10 mg/mL) over the palatal donor site following free gingival graft (FGG) procedure.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Subjects indicated for FGG procedure were divided into four groups. Group I: Simvastatin suspension (S), group II: simvastatin/chitosan gel (SC), group III: chitosan gel (C), group IV: petroleum gel (P). Treatment was applied three times/day for the following 7 days. Wound healing was evaluated at day 3, 7 and 14 post-surgery. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure the experienced discomfort at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days.

RESULTS

Statistical significant reduction in wound-healing scores was observed after 3 and 7 days for group II compared to other groups (p  = .015). A significant reduction was also observed in VAS score for group II compared to other groups at day 1, 3, 5 and 7.

CONCLUSION

Topical application of S/C gel could be used as a novel therapeutic modality that improved healing and reduced pain in the palatal donor site following FGG procedure.