Palatal patch for laser tissue gum surgery, FHNW School of Life Sciences

The condition of soft tissues around teeth or implants plays a key role in maintaining periodontal and peri-implant health. Traditional surgical techniques like mucosal or connective tissue grafts often result in significant discomfort, including bleeding, swelling, and prolonged healing times. Currently, there is no optimal solution for treating palatal wounds that meets the needs of both patients and dentists.

Laser tissue soldering (LTS) is an innovative, suture-free approach that offers immediate wound stability, reduced scarring and pain, and improved clinical efficiency. However, this technique depends on specific physical and biological conditions - heat transfer to the solder leading to crosslinking of solder and host tissue - that make its translation in clinical practice complex.

This project aims to develop a palatal patch specifically designed for gum surgery that is compatible with laser tissue soldering.

Key steps include:

• developing a solderable and mechanically robust matrix based on established biomaterials
• designing and integrating of suitable nanoparticles to ensure efficient thermal transfer
• creating an easy-to-use and reliable temperature control system
• adapting the product to laser types commonly available in dental practices

We have successfully developed multi-layered polymer matrices that incorporat heat transfer enabling compounds. The innovative patch was successfully soldered during in vivo gum surgery trials.