Patient outcomes following subepithelial connective tissue graft and free gingival graft procedures.
BACKGROUND
Subepithelial connective tissue grafts (CTGs) and free gingival grafts (FGGs) are common periodontal procedures with similar indications; however, they may differ regarding patient outcomes. Reports on postoperative periodontal patient outcomes are limited. The aim of this observational trial was to compare patient-based outcomes for CTGs and FGGs.


METHODS
Patients who received CTG or FGG completed postoperative questionnaires at 3 days and 3 weeks to assess pain, number of analgesic pills taken, and number of days pills were taken. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS).


RESULTS
Twenty-three subjects (12 CTGs and 11 FGGs) completed the study. Differences between CTG and FGG groups in VAS pain scores at 3 days did not reach statistical significance. The proportion of subjects reporting pain in the palate at 3 days was significantly greater for FGG (P <0.05). There were no significant intergroup differences at 3 weeks. For the FGG group, 3-week VAS pain scores were less than the 3-day ones (P <0.01). For the entire study population, the number of days analgesic pills were taken, total number of analgesic pills taken, and number of pills taken from day 3 to the end of the study correlated with the 3-week pain scores.


CONCLUSIONS
FGG is associated with a greater incidence of donor site pain compared to CTG at the early postoperative period. Longer-term pain after soft tissue grafting is associated with greater analgesic usage. There is an opportunity to improve the postoperative protocols of soft tissue grafting, particularly for FGG.
Wessel
Jeffrey R
JR
Section of Periodontology, College of Dentistry, Ohio State University Health Sciences Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
Tatakis
Dimitris N
DN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000601:surgery*; D005893:Gingivoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014727:Vestibuloplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007052:Ibuprofen