Does harvesting connective tissue grafts from the palate cause persistent sensory dysfunction? A pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Oral surgery
• Periodontology
• Regenerative medicine

Background:

• Connective tissue grafts are a well-established treatment in dentistry.
• Palatal tissue is a common donor site for these grafts.
• Potential sensory alterations following graft harvesting require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the occurrence and extent of persistent sensory dysfunction after palatal connective tissue graft harvesting.
• To objectively measure neurosensory changes at different distances from the graft harvest site.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 14 patients who underwent palatal graft harvesting was assessed.
• Postoperative neurosensory testing included minimal 2-point discrimination, soft-touch, pin-tactile, and thermal discrimination.
• Measurements were taken at 5, 10, and 15 mm from the palatal tissue margin at canine, premolar, and molar sites.

Main Results:

• Two out of 14 patients reported persistent palatal numbness or altered sensation.
• Statistically significant differences in 2-point discrimination were observed between donor and non-donor sites at 5 mm from the canine margin (P = .01).
• Analysis of variance revealed significant sensory differences between donor and non-donor sites at 5 and 10 mm from the margins of all assessed teeth (P = .02).

Conclusions:

• Harvesting connective tissue grafts from the palate may result in localized sensory changes.
• While often asymptomatic, some patients may experience persistent sensory deficits.
• Objective neurosensory testing can detect subtle differences between graft donor and non-donor palatal sites.