The Slice Harvesting Technique for Tuberosity Soft Tissue Grafts: A Case Report.

Abstract

Constant efforts are made to trigger simpler, faster and less invasive surgical approaches to harvest autologous connective tissue grafts. While the palate is considered as a gold standard, its association with complications and patient discomfort have led clinicians to explore alternative sites like the tuberosity. However, current tuberosity harvesting techniques face several limitations. Through a multiple recessions clinical case intended as a proof of concept, this article describes a novel harvesting technique based on a gingivectomy that triggers the tuberosity tangentially. Clinical, aesthetic, and patient outcomes were monitored at 7 days, 14 days, 1 month, and 3 years at the grafted site as well as at the tuberosity. Multiple harvestings were conducted at the tuberosities offering connective tissue grafts suitable for micrografting. Harvested tuberosities healed completely without complication, and the patient reported no discomfort. At the grafted site, both aesthetic and functional results were maintained for up to 3 years. The Slice Harvesting Technique offers a promising alternative for tuberosity tissue harvesting, with critical advantages including high indication rate, simplicity, speed, safety, and the ability to provide user-friendly connective tissue grafts. Besides, the technique could also appear sustainable and favor the regrow of tuber for multiple rounds of harvesting.