Bovine-Derived Collagen Membrane as an Advanced Biological Dressing for Minor Intraoral Soft Tissue Defects: A Case Series

Abstract Background: Intraoral soft tissue defects frequently occur following dental extractions, trauma, and oral surgical procedures, and often heal by secondary intention. Such wounds are susceptible to postoperative pain, infection, delayed epithelialization, and contracture, which may impair oral function. An ideal biological dressing should protect the wound, reduce morbidity, and promote rapid mucosal regeneration. Bovine-derived collagen membrane (BDCM), known for its biocompatibility, low antigenicity, and ability to support cellular proliferation, has recently gained attention as a biomaterial for intraoral wound coverage. This case series evaluates the clinical effectiveness of BDCM in the management of minor intraoral soft tissue defects. Case Presentation: Twenty patients aged 15–60 years with minor intraoral mucosal defects resulting from routine dental procedures (n=9), major oral surgeries (n=9), and trauma (n=2) were treated using BDCM. Following thorough debridement, the membrane was trimmed, adapted to the defect, and secured with resorbable sutures. Postoperative assessments were performed on Day 1, Day 10, at 1 month, and at 3 months, based on nine clinical parameters: hemostasis, pain, swelling, infection, granulation tissue formation, epithelialization, wound contracture, biodegradability, and allergenicity. Nineteen patients demonstrated satisfactory healing outcomes, showing good hemostasis, minimal postoperative pain, absence of infection, early granulation tissue formation, and complete epithelialization. The membrane biodegraded by approximately the 10th postoperative day. One case failed due to inadequate membrane adherence and required secondary intervention. No allergic reactions or adverse events were noted. Conclusion: BDCM served as a safe and effective biological dressing for minor intraoral soft tissue defects, promoting rapid epithelialization and stable healing with minimal complications. Its ease of availability and lack of donor-site morbidity make it a viable alternative to autogenous grafts, offering predictable clinical outcomes. Larger randomized controlled clinical trials are recommended to further substantiate these findings. Keywords: Biocompatibility; Bovine collagen membrane; Epithelialization; Intraoral defect; Oral wound dressing; Soft tissue healing; Wound management.