Study on Effects of Topical Triamcinolone Acetonide and Collagen Membrane on Palatal Wound Healing and Quality of Life After Free Gingival Graft Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of applying topical triamcinolone acetonide on wound healing and patient-reported outcomes at the palatal donor site after free gingival graft FGG surgery. This randomized controlled trial includes 55 patients with mucogingival deficiencies requiring FGG. The study aims to compare healing and patient experiences between those receiving a collagen membrane alone and those receiving topical corticosteroid treatment, addressing the common issues of pain, discomfort, and delayed healing at the donor site. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The control group will have a collagen membrane applied to the palatal donor site after graft harvesting, while the test group will receive topical triamcinolone acetonide followed by a collagen membrane. Both groups will have the donor site covered with sterile aluminum foil and a periodontal dressing. Surgical procedures will be performed by a single clinician, and evaluations will be done on postoperative days 3, 7, 14, and 30. During the study, wound epithelialization will be assessed using the hydrogen peroxide bubbling test, while wound healing and scar formation will be measured using established clinical indices. Patient-centered outcomes such as pain, discomfort, bleeding, analgesic use, dietary changes, and oral health-related quality of life will be recorded using visual analog scales and questionnaires. This comprehensive monitoring aims to provide evidence on whether topical corticosteroid use can reduce donor site morbidity and improve recovery after FGG surgery.

Palatal Wound Healing After Free Gingival Graft Surgery