SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF WOUND DRESSINGS FOR PALATAL DONOR SITE MANAGEMENT IN ORAL SOFT TISSUE SURGERY

Abstract

Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of various wound dressings used to manage palatal donor sites following soft tissue graft harvesting in oral surgery.

Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and RINC in March 2025, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and observational designs published in English or Russian from 2010 to 2024. The primary outcomes assessed were pain reduction, epithelialization rate, healing time, and incidence of complications. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool.

Results: Of the 261 identified records, 220 remained after duplicate removal, and 40 full texts were assessed. Nine studies met inclusion criteria and were synthesized qualitatively. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) was the most consistently effective material, demonstrating reduced pain and faster epithelialization. Collagen matrices and cyanoacrylate adhesives also showed promising, albeit variable, outcomes. Methodological heterogeneity across studies precluded meta-analysis.

Conclusions: PRF appears to be the most reliable wound dressing for palatal donor site healing, with collagen-based and synthetic alternatives serving as viable options. Future high-quality trials with standardized methodologies are necessary to support evidence-based recommendations in periodontal and oral soft tissue surgery.