Injectable platelet-rich fibrin and microneedling for gingival augmentation in thin periodontal phenotype: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Abstract

The aim of this present study was to evaluate the effect of gingival thickness (GT) and keratinized tissue width (KTW)using injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) alone and with microneedling (MN) in individuals with thin periodontal phenotypes. In this split-mouth study, 33 systemically healthy patients with thin periodontal phenotypes were randomly treated with MN+i-PRF and i-PRF. I-PRF was injected on one side, and MN+i-PRF was performed on the other side of the same patient at 4 sessions with 10-day intervals. Clinical periodontal measurements, GT and KTWwere assessed before the treatment and every month for six months after the final injection. After the evaluation of GT between the groups, a statistically significant difference was found in MN+i-PRF group at the sixth month. In the intra-group comparisons, a statistically significant increase in GT was observed within both i-PRF [from 0.43mm±0.14 to0.62mm±0.11 (p<.001)] and MN+i-PRF [from 0.4mm±0.14 to 0.66mm±0.12 (p<.001)] groups at the sixth month. In individuals with thin periodontal phenotypes, standalone i-PRF and i-PRF with MN may have an influence in increasing GT. The results suggest that application of i-PRF and MN may be a first step of non-surgical method for increasing gingival thickness.