Soft Tissue Wound Healing Following Different Gingivectomy Techniques

Horizontal and vertical gingival overgrowth indexes were evaluated before and after surgery during each follow-up controls. The vertical distance of gingival tissue was measured from the gingival margin to the cement-enamel junction (gingival overgrowth [GO] index). Horizontal gingival values were also recorded between the tooth surfaces and the papillary tissue surface at the interdental contact point as buccolingual aspect (mesiobuccal [MB] index).

Postoperative Evaluations

The postoperative parameters, including pain, burning, edema, vascularization, erythema, epithelization, bleeding and carbonization, were recorded at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days postoperatively.

Postoperative pain, burning, erythema, vascularization, and edema were assessed via the visual analogue scale (VAS). The VAS is a 100-mm horizontal-line scale that is used to quantify subjective symptoms such as pain, burning, erythema, vascularization, and edema. In the present study, researchers used a standard VAS on which patients drew a vertical sign along a 10-cm scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (highest degree of pain). Bleeding and carbonization during the postoperative period were assessed as either present or absent. Patients evaluated their postoperative pain, burning, and bleeding values. The same researcher evaluated erythema, vascularization, edema, and epithelization values.

Evaluation of Surgical Wound Area After gingivectomy operation, the surgical site was evaluated with hydrogen peroxide to detect the presence of epithelization. A blinded researcher who used a standard digital camera to take standard magnification photographs assessed the operation area, consisting of the epithelium. The researcher examined all photographs with the assistance of an image-analyzing software program. The mesio-distal width of the maxillary right central tooth was recorded for each patient, and photographs were calibrated via the reference values. In the areas subjected to hydrogen peroxide application and experiencing tissue reaction, there was a lack of an epithelial layer in the wound area. The wound surface areas of foamy fields on the all of the groups' photographs were recorded on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 following the gingivectomies.

Inclusion criteria

The criteria for inclusion in the study were as follows:

• systemically healthy individuals
• nonsmokers
• horizontal and vertical gingival overgrowth indexes with a "score 1" or "score 2"
• mean bleeding on probing and mean plaque index value < 20% (indicating good oral hygiene)
• no clinical attachment loss and
• a minimum of four teeth at each surgical site.

Exclusion criteria

The exclusion criteria were as follows:

• systemic disease that could influence the outcome of the treatment, -pregnancy and/or lactation,
• allergy,
• conditions requiring antibiotic prophylaxis and anti-inflammatory medications, -acute or untreated periodontitis
• the use of an analgesic before the surgical procedure.