Propylene Mesh VS Standard Customized Palatal Stent as Protective Mechanical Barrier Following Harvesting of a Free Palatal Graft: A Short-term Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial (Part 1)

Background: protection of the palatal wound is an essential step following harvesting a palatal soft tissue graft. During the last decades, several materials were used to avoid protect against the post-operative problems as bleeding, pain and possible infections. The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to assess the usage of polypropylene mesh, compared to the conventional custom-made acrylic stent for efficacy in protection of the palatal wound and reducing the bleeding tendency and post-operative pain.

Patients and methods: A single blinded, parallel group randomized controlled trial took place. Twenty sites were approved to be treated using soft tissue grafting technique with the need for a palatally harvested free graft. The palatal wounds were protected with propylene mesh and custom-made acrylic palatal sten. Participants were qualitatively assessed for bleeding duration, bleeding amount, pain duration, infection possibility, inflammation at 2, 4, 6, 8, 14 days post-operatively. The patient acceptance was also evaluated.