Efficacy of different interventions on the morbidity of the palatal donor area after free gingival graft and connective tissue graft: A systematic review

Abstract

This review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different interventions used on the palatal donor area in the treatment of postoperative pain after free gingival graft and connective tissue graft techniques, and their impact in the oral-health related quality of life (OHRQOL). This study was conducted according to PRISMA. A search was conducted in four electronic databases and the grey literature. The interventions found were grouped according to biological plausibility and mechanisms of action: Mechanical Barriers; Topical Drugs; Hemostatic Agents; Other Therapies (photobiomodulation, ozonotherapy and others). Fifty-four studies were included and 43 different interventions were reported. The most commonly reported intervention was collagen hemostatic sponge, either alone or combined with other interventions, followed by platelet-rich fibrin and photobiomodulation. Postoperative pain evaluation using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) generally indicated that interventions improved pain over time. However, comparing the superiority of interventions is challenging, as studies often combine different interventions with different mechanisms of action. OHRQOL also showed improvement over time, but the comparison between interventions is limited, since few studies used a validated tool. The methodological diversity among studies is considerable, requiring a cautious interpretation of individual studies.