Ex Vivo Produced Oral Mucosal Composites for Intraoral Grafting

This study aims to create a useful graft for oral tissue, similar to the roof of the mouth, in a lab setting. The goal is to use this lab-grown tissue successfully in humans. Researchers have already achieved this in mice and now they want to test it in humans. A small piece of tissue will be taken from a volunteer and then grown into a larger piece outside the body. This technique is expected to work, as it has been successful in patients with skin burns. The importance of this research lies in the fact that oral tissue from the roof of the mouth is limited and its removal can cause pain and discomfort. If this technique is successful, patients will experience less pain and discomfort, and larger pieces of oral tissue can be grown than what could be directly taken from the mouth. This study is for patients who need a soft tissue graft from the mouth to an area that needs additional tissue. This could be for those who have or will have dental implants placed, or for those who need scar tissue released or the area that turns from the gums to the lip released.