Harvard tests Pain-Free gum patch to replace painful palate grafts

This study is testing whether a new, ready-to-use collagen patch (Star Matrix) can widen thin, protective gum tissue as effectively as the current standard surgery, which takes tissue from the roof of the mouth. Twelve adults with thin gums on both sides of their lower jaw will receive the new patch on one side and the traditional graft on the other, allowing for direct comparison. Researchers will measure how much gum tissue grows, how much pain patients feel, and how long each procedure takes over six months.