Harvest of Free Gingival Grafts With or Without the Application of Hemostatic Sutures

Immediately after the harvest of a free gingival graft from hard palate, at least a half carpule of local anesthetic (articaine 4% 1:100.000 epinephrine) will be infiltrated within the apical border of the harvesting site and another half mesially and distally to the harvesting site. At the end of the mucogingival procedure, the donor site will be evaluated to inquire regarding the presence of a competent coagulum over the wound area. In such a case, no additional procedure will be performed at the recipient site.

Immediately after the harvest of a free gingival graft from hard palate, hemostatic collagen sponges will be applied over the harvesting site and a series of tooth suspended external mattress sutures (PGA 5/0) will be applied over the area, in order to provide a compressive effect.