Free Gingival Graft Patients' Treatment Perception and Experience: a Retrospective Survey.

April 28, 2026 updated by: Cenker Zeki Koyuncuoğlu, Istanbul Aydın University

Patient Experience and Treatment Perception in Patients Undergoing Free Gingival Graft: A Retrospective Survey Study.

Free gingival graft (FGG) is a common and effective periodontal procedure used to improve gum health; however, it can involve challenges such as postoperative pain and discomfort due to the requirement of a secondary donor site. While clinical outcomes are well-documented, long-term patient perceptions and overall satisfaction levels have not been sufficiently explored. The purpose of this retrospective study is to systematically evaluate patient experiences, satisfaction levels, and the willingness to undergo the procedure again in individuals who underwent FGG surgery at least one year ago.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Background and Rationale: Free gingival graft (FGG) is a widely preferred mucogingival procedure in periodontal plastic surgery, aimed at increasing keratinized tissue width and improving gingival morphology. While FGG is highly effective for indications such as preventing gingival recession and enhancing oral hygiene maintenance, it requires a secondary surgical site (donor area), which can lead to postoperative pain, tissue morbidity, and reduced patient comfort. Current literature often focuses on short-term clinical outcomes, leaving long-term patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and perceptions insufficiently explored.

Objectives:The primary objective of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the postoperative experiences, satisfaction levels, and overall surgical perceptions of individuals who underwent FGG surgery. Specifically, the study aims to investigate the willingness of patients to undergo the procedure again, should it be necessary in the future.

Methodology: This is a retrospective, non-interventional, observational, and cross-sectional study conducted at Istanbul Aydin University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology. The study population includes patients who underwent FGG surgery between January 2014 and May 2024, with at least one year having passed since the operation.Data collection involves two stages:

  1. Archive Review: Patient demographics, smoking status, systemic health, and surgical details (e.g., complications, donor site technique) are retrieved from institutional records.
  2. Telephone Survey: A semi-structured survey is administered via telephone to assess patient-reported outcomes, including pain levels, satisfaction, analgesic requirements, and aesthetic perceptions.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

77

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Turkey
      • Istanbul, Turkey, Turkey (Türkiye), 34295
        • Istanbul Aydin University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of patients who underwent Free Gingival Graft (FGG) surgery at the Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul Aydın University, between January 2014 and May 2024. Potential participants were identified through a retrospective screening of institutional archive records based on the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals who underwent Free Gingival Graft (FGG) surgery at Istanbul Aydin University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology; who accurately remember the surgical site and grant permission to use their patient records containing demographic and surgical data.
  • Patients who have undergone periodontal plastic surgery due to an FGG procedure only once.
  • Patients whose records contain complete information regarding the graft harvesting technique from the palatal donor site, including the date of the procedure and any complications within the first month following surgery.
  • Patients who have not previously undergone any other surgical procedure in the palatal region.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals who have not undergone FGG surgery.
  • Patients who have undergone periodontal plastic surgery more than once.
  • Patients who underwent FGG surgery but have missing or incomplete information in their medical records.
  • Patients who have previously undergone any other surgical procedure in the palatal region.
  • Patients who have previously received a different periodontal surgical treatment in the area where the relevant teeth are located.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Free Gingival Graft Patients
Patients who underwent free gingival graft (FGG) surgery at the Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul Aydın University, between January 2014 and May 2024
Procedure: Free Gingival Graft
A surgical procedure performed to increase the amount of keratinised gingival tissue and improve periodontal health. The study examines the postoperative experiences and satisfaction levels of patients who have undergone this procedure.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient Satisfaction and Willingness to Undergo the Procedure Again
Time Frame: At least 1 year post-operation (Range: 1 to 11 years, based on surgeries performed between January 2014 and May 2024).
This measure evaluates the overall satisfaction of patients who underwent Free Gingival Graft (FGG) surgery and their willingness to repeat the procedure if necessary in the future. The assessment is conducted through a semi-structured retrospective telephone survey that covers postoperative pain, complications, aesthetic perception, and overall treatment experience.
At least 1 year post-operation (Range: 1 to 11 years, based on surgeries performed between January 2014 and May 2024).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul Aydın University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 27, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 30, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

September 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 28, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 28, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 28, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 145/2025

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

As the informed consent form guarantees participants that their data will not be shared with third parties, the data will not be made available for sharing.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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