Management of Postoperative Pain Following Free Gingival Graft Harvesting Using Ora-Aid Versus Acrylic Palatal Stent: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Ora-Aid is a hydrogel-based, bioadhesive wound dressing designed for intraoral application. After harvesting the free gingival graft and managing hemostasis at the palatal donor site, the Ora-Aid patch will be cut and adjusted to fit the wound size. The dressing will be applied directly to the palatal wound and pressed gently for 10 seconds to aid adherence. It will then be fixed using 5/0 proline suture with a slinged horizontal figure-eight suture technique. The dressing provides a physical barrier over the wound, preventing mechanical irritation and reducing pain. Reapplication will occur every 3-5 days as needed until complete epithelialization is achieved (typically 10-14 days). The adhesive integrity of Ora-Aid typically lasts up to 72 hours.

A custom-made acrylic resin palatal stent is fabricated from an alginate impression and applied to the palatal donor site immediately after free gingival graft harvesting. The stent provides mechanical protection, stabilizes the blood clot, and reduces postoperative trauma. It is retained in place for approximately 2 weeks, with periodic removal for clinical evaluation of wound healing.