Estimation of MMP-8 Levels in GCF and Serum and Its Correlation With Wound Healing and Clinical Outcomes After Coronally Advanced Flap and Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft for Root Coverage in Recession Defects: A CLINICO-BIOCHEMICAL STUDY

Assessment of wound healing progression after surgery is important. Currently blunt surrogate markers such as probing is used. Limitation of these markers is that it represents the history of healing and not the ongoing activity. As hallmark of healing is collagen remodeling, it is of interest to study the cytokine profile that relates to wound healing. Such knowledge may potentially lead to new diagnostic strategies to study wound healing in a better way reflecting the healing phenotype. Understanding wound healing at molecular level provides an in depth basis to develop treatment strategies that can prevent delayed healing.2 As recommended by Consensus Report of 10th European workshop on periodontology that, there is a need for more studies at cellular level to identify cytokine, chemokine, and intracellular signaling networks for better regenerative approaches10, the present clinical trial was designed. On account of a considerable lacunae in this area of periodontal research, this study is planned to assess the MMP-8 levels during the post-op healing following CAF+SCTG surgery for recession coverage and to better identify the mechanism involved in wound healing. This information can be used to prevent the normal surgical wound from altered healing experience.