title: Complications with surgical procedures utilizing connective tissue grafts: a follow-up of 500 consecutively treated cases.
abstract: The goal of this study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of the complications that occur after connective tissue grafts are used. Five hundred consecutively treated patients, for whom connective tissue grafts were used for root coverage or gingival augmentation, were included in this study. Complications did occur, but the rates and intensities seemed clinically acceptable. There was no pain reported in 81.4% of the patients, no bleeding in 97.0% of the patients, no infection in 99.2% of the patients, and no swelling in 94.6% of the patients. None of the factors evaluated in this study were associated with a statistically significant increase in the rate or intensity of complications. These factors included: age, sex of patient, smoking status, purpose of the graft (ie, for root coverage or for gingival augmentation), size of the recipient area, and the location of the defect being treated. Based on the results of this study, the incidence and severity of complications seemed to be clinically acceptable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University of Nebraska School of Dentistry, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: Randall J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Laura Harris
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000601:surgery*; D005893:Gingivoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection