Evaluation of microneedling with and without injectable-platelet rich fibrin for gingival augmentation in thin gingival phenotype-A randomized clinical trial

Chetana; Sangamithra Sidharthan; Gopalakrishnan Dharmarajan; Shraddha Iyer; Mariam Poulose; Meghana Guruprasad; Dhakshay Chordia

doi:10.1016/j.jobcr.2023.10.008

Evaluation of microneedling with and without injectable-platelet rich fibrin for gingival augmentation in thin gingival phenotype-A randomized clinical trial

J Oral Biol Craniofac Res. 2024 Jan-Feb;14(1):49-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2023.10.008. Epub 2023 Dec 15.

Authors

Chetana¹, Sangamithra Sidharthan¹, Gopalakrishnan Dharmarajan¹, Shraddha Iyer¹, Mariam Poulose¹, Meghana Guruprasad¹, Dhakshay Chordia²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Periodontology, Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Sant Tukaram Nagar, Pimpri, Pune, 411 018, Maharashtra, India.
² Department of General Surgery Saveetha Medical college, Thandalam, Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of micro needling (MN) on gingival thickness (GT) and keratinized tissue width (KTW) in individuals with thin gingival phenotypes, either with or without injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF).

Materials and methods: In this randomized, split-mouth clinical trial, 15 systemically healthy patients, with thin gingival phenotype (<1.5 mm) were randomly treated with MN + i-PRF and MN. MN was performed on one side, and MN + i-PRF on the contralateral side of the same arch at 4 sessions with 10-day intervals. GT; KTW the primary outcome and Plaque index; gingival index Secondary outcome were assessed at baseline and at 1st, 3rd, and 6th months post-treatment.

Results: The results of the present study showed that both techniques demonstrated a statistically significant increase in GT. GT showed a statistically significant increase from baseline (0.453 ± 0.069 mm in MN, 0.451 ± 0.069 mm in MN + i-PRF) (p = 0.81) to 1 month (0.567 ± 0.075 mm in MN, 0.649 ± 0.075 mm in MN + i-PRF) (p < 0.001*). A follow-up at 3rd month (0.566 ± 0.076 mm in MN, 0.647 ± 0.091 mm in MN + i-PRF) (p < 0.001*) and 6th month (0.564 ± 0.076 mm in MN, 0.644 ± 0.089 mm in MN + i-PRF) (p < 0.001*) showed a statistically significant increase. Intergroup comparison showed a statistically significant GT increase in MN + i-PRF sites at all the time intervals. No, statistically significant difference in KTW was observed in both groups from baseline to 6 months.

Conclusions: The utilization of MN + i-PRF stands as a minimally invasive, non-surgical method to improve GT. Interestingly, using i-PRF as an additional component demonstrated more favorable outcomes compared to using MN alone in enhancing tissue thickness.

Keywords: Gingiva; Microneedling; Plasma platelet rich fibrin; Soft tissue augmentation.