%0 Journal Article %T Histological assessment of a novel de-epithelialization method for connective tissue grafts harvested from the palate. An experimental study in cadavers. %A Bara-Gaseni N %A Jorba-Garcia A %A Alberdi-Navarro J %A Figueiredo R %A Bara-Casaus JJ %J Clin Oral Investig %V 28 %N 6 %D 2024 May 28 %M 38802645 %F 3.606 %R 10.1007/s00784-024-05734-y %X OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the histological outcomes of three distinct de-epithelialization methods used in (connective tissue grafts) CTG harvested from the palate.
METHODS: An experimental study using nine cadaver head specimens was carried out to compare 3 different de-epithelialization techniques for CTG. Eighteen samples were randomly allocated to three study groups: bone scraper, diamond bur and extraoral removal with a scalpel. The main outcome variable was the graft surface percentage without epithelium remains. Additionally, the time employed, and the graft thickness were also measured.
RESULTS: Sixteen CTGs were analyzed. The extraoral scalpel group presented a total surface area with no epithelium of 58.84% (22.68) and a mean de-epithelialization time of 3.7 min; the intraoral diamond bur group had 88.24% (41.3) of the surface with no epithelium and took 1.455 min, and the intraoral bone scraper showed 97.98% (5.99) of surface without epithelium and a mean time of 0.815 min (P < 0.05). Histological analysis showed significant differences between the bone scraper and the extraoral group (P = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS: The de-epithelialization technique with a bone scraper seems to be the most effective and fastest de-epithelialization technique for CTG. These findings need to be confirmed in future clinical studies with larger samples.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of bone scrapers, could be a simple, effective and fast technique to de-epithelialize connective tissue grafts harvested from the palatal area for both novice and experienced surgeons.