CLINICAL EVALUATION OF GINGIVAL WOUND HEALING, POST-OPERATIVE SATISFACTION, AND RECURRENCE WITH OR WITHOUT INJECTABLE PLATELET RICH FIBRIN IN THE TREATMENT OF GINGIVAL HYPERPIGMENTATION USING DIODE LASER -A SPLIT MOUTH STUDY.

Introduction:

An aesthetically satisfying smile plays an important role in the psychological wellbeing and self-confidence. There are various factors that determine the overall aesthetic of smile design, one of the important factors is the pink aesthetic (aesthetic of the gingival tissues), which can greatly influence the overall clinical appearance of the smile. 

In context of depigmentation, is the fact that lasers are an effective, minimally invasive, and often painless alternative to the conventional and traditional techniques of depigmentation. Lasers of a range of wavelengths in dentistry, from the visible spectrum such as the “blue” and “green” diode lasers (440, 532 nm), near infrared diode lasers (810, 940, 980 nm), mid-infrared lasers Nd:YAG (1064 nm), have a broad affinity for pigmented chromophores, including melanin. Diode laser treatment exhibited better long-term stability of gingival color, with a lower incidence of re-pigmentation.

An autologous blood concentration known as i-PRF has been known for many years and primarily found in liquid form. The advantage of i-PRF is that it exhibits constant release of growth factors and promotes cell migration by announcing the expression of type I collagen and transforming growth factor mRNA.

The study is thus proposed to evaluate and compare the role of the i-PRF in gingival wound healing, post-operative healing, and recurrence of pigmentation after gingival depigmentation using a diode laser both clinically which has not been reported in the literature.

Aim and objective

To evaluate, and compare the post-gingival depigmentation outcome - pain, wound healing, epithelization clinically and reoccurence of pigmentation for i-PRF+ diode laser and diode laser alone:

a) For visual analog scale (VAS) 3^rd and 5^th day and healing index (HI) at 3^rd, at 5^th day and 14^th day,

b) Epithelization test using toluidine blue at 5^th day and 14^th day.

c) Evaluation of reoccurrence of pigmentation at 30^th day, 90^th day, and 180^th day.

Material and Methods:

1.                  10 subjects satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria will be enrolled from the out-patient section, Department of Periodontics, Kamineni Institute of Dental Sciences, Narketpally, Nalgonda (Dist), Telangana.

2.                  After allocating the patient for the gingival depigmentation, infiltration anaesthesia with 2% lignocaine with adrenaline 1:200,000 was administered. The entire visible pigmentation was removed, exposing the underlying connective tissue using diode laser at 980nm at 1st and 2nd quadrants.

3.                  For i-PRF preparation, 10ml of whole blood without anticoagulant will be centrifuged at 700 rpm for 3 min at room temperature. After 3 mins the straw-colored liquid present at the top which is i-PRF will be collected. Using insulin syringe 1ml of i-PRF liquid will be deposited intramucosally in 1st quadrant alone (Test group).

Inclusion criteria:

•                     Ages: 16-45 years old

•                     Systemically healthy

•                     Good oral hygiene

•                     Thick gingival biotypes

•                     Keratinized gingiva >2mm

Exclusion criteria:

•                     Smokers

•                     Taking any medications that could affect healing

•                     Pervious depigmentation procedures

•                     Pregnant or lactating females

•                     Pervious periodontal surgery within 6 months before the start of the trial

Sample size: The study consists of 10 subjects which will be done as a split mouth clinical trial. (n=10).

Group I: In all the patients the gingiva of 1st quadrant will be deposited with i-PRF intramucosally after depigmentation procedure using diode laser at 980nm.

Group II: In all the patients the gingiva of 2nd quadrant depigmentation procedure using diode laser at 980nm will be done alone.

Parameters:

Following parameters will be evaluated, and compared.

a)                  For visual analog scale (VAS) at 3^rd and 5^th day,

b)                  Healing index (HI) at 3^rd, at 5^th day, and at 14^th day,

c)                  Epithelization test using toluidine blue on 5^th day and 14^th day.

d)                  Reoccurrence of pigmentation at 30^th day, 90^th day, and 180^th day.