Ultrasonographic evaluation of the titanium-prepared platelet-rich fibrin effect in free gingival graft procedures

Background Complications after free gingival graft (FGG) operations are generally related to the donor site. The titanium-prepared, platelet-rich fibrin (T-PRF) placement in the donor site accelerate the wound healing and prevent postoperative complications such as pain and haemorrhage. We aim to evaluate the effect of T-PRF regarding vascularization and tissue thickness and to report the advantages of the ultrasonography (US) in FGG. Methods Ten individuals were divided to two groups as T-PRF and control. While the T-PRF membrane was placed at the donor site in T-PRF group, a gelatin sponge was placed in control group. All patients underwent US examination in terms of vascularization and tissue thickness of left and right donor sites. The correlation between the right and left donor sites was analyzed with the Pearson correlation test. Tissue thicknesses and Pulsatility index (PI) were analyzed with independent samples T-test. The results were evaluated statistically at the p Results The T-PRF group showed increased vascularity which can be interpreted to improve healing in soft tissue. However, not a difference, but a positively very high correlation was observed between the right and left tissue thicknesses (p = 0,00; r = +0,902). Conclusion Evaluation of tissue thickness and vascularization density of donor sites with US not only increases clinical success rate but also reduces the risk of complications during surgery and postoperative pain in FGG. Studies evaluating T-PRF membrane as palatal dressing after FGG are only clinically, however, the efficiency of T-PRF was evaluated radiologically in this study for the first time. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.