Background: This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted to determine whether the application of a platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) palatal bandage after harvesting free gingival grafts (FGG) would improve healing of donor sites and decrease pain scores and patient discomfort.
Methods: Twenty-four patients received FGG to augment keratinized tissue dimensions. The application of a PRF bandage was decided randomly (n = 12 in each group). Patients reported their pain levels for the first 7 days of healing using the visual analog scale (VAS), 101-point numerical rating scale (NRS-101), and 4-point verbal rating scale (VRS-4). The patients' pre-operative anxiety levels were measured using three anxiety scales. The healing of the donor sites was evaluated and compared to preoperative records. Data were assessed and recorded before surgery and at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively.
Results: Dental anxiety, state-trait anxiety were evaluated at base line and correlated to the postoperative pain scores. There were no significant differences in anxiety levels between the two groups, yet they could potentially influence the outcome of any surgery and were included as covariates. The patients in the PRF group reported significantly lower pain scores and their pain levels returned to baseline levels earlier, compared to the control group. They were also assessed as having better wound healing over a 2-month follow-up period, based on color, contour, and texture indices.
Conclusion: PRF palatal bandages significantly reduced postoperative pain and discomfort, and facilitated wound healing after harvesting FGG.