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NCT Number: NCT07386457

Taking Measurements of a Gum Graft Site as it Heals

This is an observational study. The participants in this study will be patients at the Graduate Periodontics Clinic at The Ohio State University who are planning to get a gingival graft to treat their gum recession. Gingival grafts are a common way to treat this recession. The grafting surgery is not part of the study.

The main purpose of this study is to better understand the normal healing of a gum graft. In order to do that, the investigators will take different kinds of measurements.

1. It is common for the tissue around the graft to have some swelling after the surgery. The investigators will measure the amount of swelling at different times as the graft heals. This will be done with a digital scanner which is passed over the area. 2. A device which measures blood flow will be used to see how new blood vessels are forming. This is also a device which is only passed over the area, so it is not invasive. 3. Saliva samples will be taken from around the teeth using sterile paper strips. This fluid will be analyzed for substances related to wound healing. 4. Participants will fill out questionnaires about their experience with the graft healing.

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Key information

Conditions

Gingival Recession Gingival Diseases Mouth Diseases Periodontal Atrophy Periodontal Diseases Stomatognathic Diseases

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

The Ohio State University Graduate Periodontics Clinic

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Binnaz Leblebicioglu, DDS, MS, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

614-292-0371

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Clinical (oral) Ohio State University College of Dentistry patient, treatment planned for SCTG procedure
  • Miller Recession Class I, II, or III
  • Teeth; Maxillary or mandibular incisors, canines, pre-molars
  • Gingival Index ≤ 1
  • Plaque Index ≤ 1
  • Able and willing to provide informed consent
  • Able and willing to complete questionnaire

Exclusion criteria

  • Carious lesions on the tooth selected for surgical root coverage
  • Taking any medications affecting the gingiva and/or oral mucosa: phenytoin, calcium channel blockers , cyclosporin A, immunostimulants/ immunomodulators
  • Quantitative and/or qualitative defects on host inflammatory cells
  • Organ transplant(s)
  • Type I or II diabetes
  • Currently pregnant or lactating
  • Usage of smokeless tobacco
  • Physical/mental handicap which can interfere with adequate oral hygiene performance

Treatment and study plan

Gingival graft surgery to treat gingival recession

Procedure

Subepithelial connective tissue grafting (SCTG) is a common procedure for the treatment of gingival recession and involves the autotransplantation of connective tissue from a donor site to the site of recession.

Primary outcomes

  1. Tissue Volume Change

    Time frame: Immediately prior to surgery; immediately after surgery; Day 2 post-surgery; Day 3 post-surgery; Day 7 post-surgery; Day 14 post-surgery; Day 21 post-surgery

    3-dimensional digital scans will be taken with an intraoral scanner. Once captured, pre- and post-treatment digital image files will be overlapped and analyzed for dimensional changes in the area of the graft. Using digital software, the investigators will calculate the percentage tissue volume change between each time point, using the post-operative scan as a reference.

  2. Correlation with Graft Exposure

    Time frame: Immediately prior to surgery; immediately after surgery; Day 2 post-surgery; Day 3 post-surgery; Day 7 post-surgery; Day 14 post-surgery; Day 21 post-surgery

    Surgical approaches for subepithelial connective tissue grafting can vary depending on site anatomical characteristics. The choice is often dictated by the anatomy of the site and the severity of the recession and sometimes by operator preference. For the purpose of this study, exposure of the graft will be analysed as an incidental occurrence as surgical needs dictate whether the graft will be exposed or not.

  3. Inflammatory Cytokines

    Time frame: Immediately prior to surgery; immediately after surgery; Day 2 post-surgery; Day 3 post-surgery; Day 7 post-surgery; Day 14 post-surgery; Day 21 post-surgery

    Saliva samples will be taken from around the teeth at the surgical site by using sterile paper strips. These will be used to study the release of inflammatory cytokines.

  4. Microvascular blood flow

    Time frame: Immediately prior to surgery; immediately after surgery; Day 2 post-surgery; Day 3 post-surgery; Day 7 post-surgery; Day 14 post-surgery; Day 21 post-surgery

    Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) is a method of determining the real-time microvascular blood flow in soft tissue. LDF will allow the investigators to measure revascularization of the connective tissue graft and see if the degree of soft tissue dimensional change correlates with LDF measurements at certain time points.

  5. Post-operative Pain and Analgesic Use

    Time frame: 2, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after surgery

    A post-operative questionnaire will assess the subjects' post-operative pain using visual analog scales, including the location of the pain. The questionnaires will also assess the frequency and effectiveness of the analgesic prescribed.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Thickness of the Gingival Flap and Graft

    Time frame: Day of surgery

    Gingival biotype refers to biological groupings of gingival phenotypes. Biotype has repeatedly been shown to influence clinical outcomes and tissue responses. In this study, the investigators will take biotype into account by measuring the thickness of the flap after it has been raised using tissue callipers. Additionally, the investigators will measure the thickness of the graft using the same method. These measurements will allow the investigators to determine if the biotype of the patient relates to the amount of edema post-surgery, and if that edema is primarily occurring in the flap or the graft itself.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ohio State University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Dimensional Changes During Early Healing Following Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft for Root Coverage

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Feb 4, 2026
Registry last updated
Apr 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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