Temperature and Healing in Treatment of Gingival Enlargement

Aim: Gingival enlargement is a common clinical condition which requires surgical approaches to alleviating these enlargement areas. The aim of this study was to investigate epithelization, gingival temperature, inflammation and pain levels in post-operative healing process in 4 different gingivectomy techniques including Er:YAG laser, Nd:YAG laser, electrosurgery and conventional gingivectomy in treatment of chronic inflammatory gingival enlargements. Material and Method: A split-mouth designed study was conducted on 37 systemically healthy patients consisting of 19 females and 18 males, who had gingival enlargement areas on the left and right of maxillary and mandibular anterior regions. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected, clinical periodontal parameters and gingival temperature levels were recorded at baseline and in the postoperative period. The gingival temperature was measured during surgical procedures. Gingival temperature and epithelization levels in 3rd, 7th, 10th and 15th days; GCF levels in 15th, 30th, and 90th days and pain levels in 2nd and 8th hours and between 1st-7th days of post-operative healing process were evaluated.