A study published in the International Journal of Dentistry depicted that both topical application of moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) or 0.2% hyaluronic acid gel on palatal wound following harvesting of free gingival graft (FGG) can substantially decrease postsurgery pain and stimulate palatal wound-healing.

But, in terms of postoperative pain and color match, MEBO application showed even more favorable effects on pain decline and better color match. Researchers undertook this randomized clinical trial for comparing the effect of MEBO vs.  hyaluronic acid gel applied to the palatal donor site on postsurgery pain decline and wound healing following FFG harvesting.

The study incorporated 39 participants with different mucogingival defects to harvest an FGG for soft tissue augmentation. The recruited subjects were randomized into three groups: Group I (MEBO;n=13), Group II (0.2% hyaluronic acid;n=13), and group III (control;n=13). Utilizing visual analogue scale (VAS), recording of the postsurgery pain was done.

Analgesic intake was recorded for seven days postoperatively. At baseline and on days three, seven, 14, and 21, measurement of wound size was done. The postsurgery healing of the palatal wound was evaluated by the pain VAS score for color match on days three, seven, 14, 21, and 42. A considerable postsurgery pain decline was witnessed for the three groups. In comparison with the other two groups, MEBO demonstrated substantially less VAS score. 

The hyaluronic acid group illustrated a considerably reduced VAS score than the control group. Both MEBO and hyaluronic acid groups illustrated substantially less total analgesic intake. For wound size, no vital differences were witnessed between the groups. For color match, MEBO demonstrated considerably higher VAS. Thus, MEBO can be considered a practical alternative since it is cheap, available, and easy to apply.