Randomized trial reveals that A-PRF and CGF membranes reduce pain and bleeding after palatal graft harvesting, indicating benefits for postoperative comfort without speeding epithelialization.
The objective of this study was to compare and evaluate the effects of concentrated growth factor (CGF) and advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) clot membranes on palatal epithelial wound healing and postoperative discomfort following free gingival graft (FGG) harvesting. Forty-five patients who underwent FGG harvesting were randomly allocated into three groups: (1) control group ( n = 15), receiving only a sterile gelatin sponge; (2) A-PRF group ( n = 15), receiving A-PRF clot membranes; and (3) CGF group ( n = 15), receiving CGF clot membranes at the donor site. The epithelization rate, color match, and sensation scores of the palatal wound were assessed at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks postoperatively. Pain levels, analgesic consumption, and bleeding time were self-reported by patients for the first 7 days of healing. No significant differences in epithelialization and sensitivity scores were observed among the groups at any time point ( P >.05). Palatal color matching was superior in the A-PRF and CGF groups compared to the control group at 1 and 2 weeks ( P <.05). Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and the number of analgesic tablets consumed were lower in the CGF group than in the control group on days 2, 3, 4, and 5 ( P <.05). At 14 days, VAS pain scores were significantly lower in both the A-PRF and CGF groups compared to the control group ( P <.05). Immediate bleeding time at the donor site was significantly reduced in the A-PRF and CGF groups compared to the control group ( P <.05), while no significant differences were found among the groups regarding late bleeding at 7 days postoperatively ( P >.05). Although CGF demonstrated a slight advantage over A-PRF membranes, the findings indicate that neither CGF nor A-PRF accelerates epithelialization or palatal wound healing. However, the benefits of A-PRF and CGF appear to be mainly limited to postoperative comfort and immediate hemostasis rather than acceleration of epithelialization or sensory recovery. Application of A-PRF and CGF may reduce immediate bleeding and postoperative pain following FGG harvesting. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07439068, registered on 10 February 2026. (Retrospectively registered)
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Dede et al. (2026) studied this question.
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