The efficacy of polyvinylpyrrolidone sodium hyaluronate gel on pain and palatal epithelial wound healing

Free gingival graft (FGG) procedure is one of the surgical approaches used to create a wide zone of keratinized gingiva around the teeth and implants. Palatal region is commonly preferred as a donor site. Aim of this randomized controlled clinical study was to assess the additional effect of the topical polyvinylpyrrolidone sodium hyaluronate gel on postoperative morbidity and wound healing following the FGG operation. Patients ≥18 years requiring FGG surgery with ≤1 mm width of keratinized gingiva in the mandibular anterior and premolar region were included. 20 patients (5 males, 15 females) requiring FGG were randomly assigned into test and control groups. Randomization was carried out according to the computer-based randomization programme. 2 patients were dropped out during postoperative period. In the test group, topical polyvinylpyrrolidone sodium hyaluronate gel was applied on the palatal donor wound sites together with periodontal dressing. In the control group, the wound area was left to spontaneous healing and covered only with periodontal dressing. Full-mouth plaque score, full-mouth bleeding score, and probing depth were recorded on baseline and 6 months postoperatively. Postoperative pain and burning sensation were evaluated on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 following the FGG procedure. Color match (CM), complete epithelization (CE), and wound area measurements were assessed on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 42 postoperatively. According to intra- and inter-group comparisons; there were not statistically significant differences in means of postoperative pain and burning sensation parameters. Inter-group comparisons showed that color match was statistically significant between test (1,66 ± 1,4) and control (0,100 ± 0,3) groups on day 7 (p<0,05). Data about CE showed that on day 3 and day 7, it was not evaluated any of the patients. Although none of the patients were showed CE in the control group on day 14; 11% of the patients in the test group showed CE. Inter-group comparisons showed that mean wound surface area measurements between test and control groups were found statistically significant on days 3., 7., 14., and 21. In light of the foregoing, it was found that topical polyvinylpyrrolidone sodium hyaluronate gel was not showed an additional effect on postoperative pain and burning sensation following FGG operation, but contributed positively on wound healing in terms of color match, CE, and mean wound area measurements.