Impact of Hyaluronic Acid on Free Gingival Graft Healing and Palatal Donor Site Wound Healing

Free gingival graft is common, simple and predictable surgical procedure. Patients who have keratinized tissue width less than 2 mm will undergo the surgery after passing the inclusion criteria together with initial periodontal therapy. Total number of 40 patients will be divided in two separate groups; test group (hyaluronic acid) and control group based on random choice.The randomization will be examiner blind.

After the application of local anaesthesia, surgical procedure will be done in the same groups equally. In the recipient site, an horizontal incision will be performed on the mucogingival junction or 1-2 mm above it to include the free marginal gingiva. Partial thickness flap will be dissected in order to ensure the vascularisation of the graft. The size of the incision and graft will depend on the keratinized tissue width of the teeth area.

The graft will be taken from the donor site on the anterior palate in the area of premolars and molars. The graft will be measured with periodontal probe (UNC-15) in 3 dimensions over the flat surface and after the harvesting will be put in glass with saline. Donor site will be sutured using fibrin sponge and non-resorbable sutures. The size of recipient site and graft will depend on number of teeth with keratinized tissue width less than 2 mm.

The graft will be positioned on the recipient site and stabilised using non-resorbable suture performing single sutures and a sling suture around the tooth. The group of patients who will receive the hyaluronic acid will be treated on donor and recipient site before the suturing, applied once on the wound bed.

Postoperatively, patients will be instructed to rinse with 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate twice a day. The patients will be asked to keep a diary for 7 days about pain sensations using VAS scale for donor and recipient site. An analgetic treatment will be prescribed if needed.