LAUSR

Background: The gingival phenotype (GP) plays a critical role in determining the effectiveness of restorative, regenerative, esthetic, and implant therapy. A thick tissue phenotype generates more favorable outcomes than a thin phenotype following corrective periodontal procedures. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of microneedling (MN) combined with Vitamin C versus Vitamin C alone in the management of a thin GP. Materials and Methods: This was a split-mouth study involving 28 systemically healthy subjects with a thin GP in the anterior teeth region. The subjects were randomly treated with a combination of MN and injectable Vitamin C (MN + i-Vit C) and injectable Vitamin C (i-Vit C) alone. Treatment involved four sessions with 7-day intervals. Periodontal parameters evaluated included gingival thickness (GT), keratinized tissue width (KTW), plaque index, bleeding on probing, gingival index, probing depth, and clinical attachment level at baseline, 1, and 3 months after treatment. Results: The percentage change in GT at baseline versus 3 months in the MN + i-Vit C group and the i-Vit C group was 28.23% and 5.90%, respectively, and the difference was highly significant. In the intragroup comparisons, a significant (P < 0.05) increase in GT was observed within both groups at the 3-month follow-up. No significant changes in KTW were observed in either group. Conclusion: The synergistic effect of MN and i-Vit C contributes toward improving the GP. This combination presents a promising strategy for optimizing gingival health and esthetics.