Patient Reported Outcome of Palatal Donor Site After Harvesting Connective Tissue Graft With or Without Platelet-rich Fibrin: A Prospective Clinical Study

Aim: To evaluate the palatal donor site after harvesting connective tissue graft with or without platelet-rich fibrin (PRF). Material and Methods: Forty-two patients requiring connective tissue grafting were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental palatal donor site ( n = 21) received PRF before suturing, and the control palatal donor site ( n = 21) was sutured without any PRF. Results: Among 42 enrolled patients requiring connective tissue grafting, 34 patients completed the study. After 10 days, there was an increase in the average thickness of the palatal surgical test site in PRF-treated patients, whereas it decreased in non-PRF-treated patients. Patients’ response and acceptance for the surgical treatment modality in terms of Patient Comfort Score (PCS) and Patient Appearance Score (PAS) showed less discomfort and better/pleasing appearance in the experimental group after treatment as compared with the control group. “Absolute contour match” of the healing lesion to adjacent mucosa was observed in 76.5% of experimental sites, and no “absolute contour match” was observed with the adjacent non-surgical tissue in the control group, whereas, at 3 and 12 weeks, a 100% “absolute match” with the adjacent tissue was observed for all esthetic parameters in both groups. Conclusion: PRF usage at the donor site seems to be a simple less-invasive approach of high significance resulting in more accelerated physiological healing phenomenon and better early healing response.