الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Autogenous soft tissue grafts can be considered the gold standard treatment for many muco-gingival problems. The most common site for harvesting soft tissue grafts is the palate. Many harvesting techniques have emerged, but the epithelialized graft harvesting technique is one of the most reliable and effective techniques as it imparts the superficial section of the connective tissue which contains the highest amount of lamina propria. Unfortunately, it leaves an open palatal wound healed by secondary intention, increasing pain and post-operative morbidity. In order to overcome these inadequacies many dressing materials associated with topical formulas have been employed.
Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess both clinically and histologically the effect of topically applied melatonin loaded gelatin sponge on palatal wound healing after graft harvesting.
Materials and methods: Twenty-six patients indicated for free palatal graft procurement were equally divided into two groups. In the test group, the palatal donor site was covered by topical melatonin loaded gelatin sponge, and in the control, site was covered by placebo loaded gelatin sponge. Wound healing was evaluated on the day of surgery, at seven-, and fourteen-days post-surgery using photo-digital planimetry. Histological specimens were taken to verify type and rate of healing. Pain was assessed via VAS for fourteen days from the day of the surgery.
Results: At the first week interval, photo-digital planimetry showed significant decrease in the traced raw area (p=0.04) in test group compared to control, and a significant increase in the mean of immature epithelial area(p=0.04). At the second week interval, there was no statistically significant difference in all areas of interest. Histologically, test group showed accelerated healing and superior maturation at all follow up time points. No significant differences were noted in VAS scores between the two groups at all time points.
Conclusion: Melatonin treated tissue exhibited marked clinical improvement in the first week post surgically, indicating an increased rate of healing. Similarly, in the same group, histological analysis revealed significant tissue maturation at both time intervals.