Use of a Custom-Made Acrylic Palatal Stent to Minimize Donor Site Morbidity After Suture-Free Epithelialized Gingival Graft Harvesting: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Epithelialized gingival graft (EGG) harvesting from the palate is associated with postoperative morbidity, including pain and bleeding, due to healing by secondary intention. The effectiveness of palatal stents in reducing donor-site morbidity, particularly in suture-free techniques, remains unclear. This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluates the effect of a custom-made acrylic palatal stent (APS) compared with no stent on postoperative outcomes following EGG harvesting. The primary outcome is postoperative pain assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes include other patient-reported measures, clinician-reported healing, and exploratory assessments of tissue healing.

NCT Number	NCT07501754
Lead Sponsor	University of Turin, Italy
Conditions	Pain Management, Mucogingival Defects, Healing
Enrollment	44 participants
Start Date	2025-01-07
Primary Completion	2026-03-24 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-05-24 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-07-02