3D VOLUMETRIC CHANGE OF THE PALATAL DONOR REGION IN WOUND HEALING

This study is planned to be conducted with 45 individuals aged between 18-65 who applied to Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Dentistry Department of Periodontology for various reasons. In the Department of Periodontology, each patient diagnosed with periodontal disease after clinical and radiological evaluation is initially treated with phase-1 treatment. In addition, the treatment of patients with mucogingival problems (gingival recession, keratinized gingival insufficiency, shallow vestibule depth) whose phase-1 treatment has been completed in our periodontology clinic continues (with free gingival graft and connective tissue graft surgery, etc.). Pre- and post-operative clinical measurements and photographs of patients for whom surgical procedures are planned are taken and kept in our archive.

In this prospectively planned study, the palatal area of patients who have received an indication for free gingival surgery for any reason and who meet the inclusion criteria and have agreed to participate in the study will be scanned with an intraoral scanner before and after the procedure, and the changes in palate volume will be monitored at 1st and 3rd month follow-ups.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria (limitations):

Study inclusion criteria:

1. Volunteers aged 18 and over
2. Patients with Cairo type I gingival recession and requiring free gingival surgery
3. Not having a psychiatric, mental or physical disability
4. Not having received periodontal treatment in the last 6 months
5. Being systemically healthy
6. Having at least 20 teeth in your entire mouth
7. Getting diagnosed with healthy gums
8. Not using any medication
9. Not being pregnant
10. Not having used any antibiotics, anti-inflammatory or any other drugs that may affect periodontal tissues in the last 6 months for any reason.

Exclusion criteria from the study:

1. Being outside the inclusion criteria and not agreeing to participate in the study individual selection If the patients who come to the Periodontology Clinic Secretariat for periodontal treatment meet the inclusion criteria of the study whose Phase-1 treatment has been completed, the patients who accept the study and those who sign the consent form will be included in the study.

Considering the possibility of participants dropping out of the study, the number of individuals to be included in each group was determined as 15 and it is planned to be conducted with 45 individuals in total.

Group 1: Patients who are non-smokers and have clinically healthy gums Group 2: 'Light' smokers who report smoking less than 5 cigarettes per day and patients with clinically healthy gums Group 3: Patients with clinically healthy gums and ex-smokers who have not smoked for 5 years.

An intraoral optical scanner (TRIOS, 3Shape) will be used to obtain digital models as STL files at baseline (before surgery) and at 1 and 3 months. STL files will be imported into a digital imaging software (Geomagic Control X®) to measure donor site volume changes over time. All digital volumetric analyzes will be performed. STL files from baseline and follow-up visits will be overlaid and matched using the most appropriate algorithm. Stable anatomical landmarks (teeth and contralateral palate) will be used to perform overlay of models to guarantee maximum accuracy of digital analysis. Observed volumetric results are planned to include: average volumetric (Volume) changes, average distance between surfaces (difference in average thickness of the reconstructed volume; DD), and linear dimensional changes (LD) at points 3, 5, and 7 mm. Patient age, gender, and graft dimensions (width, height, and thickness) will also be recorded. The primary outcome of this study is to observe the post-operative dimensional changes of donor areas at different follow-up periods by evaluating them in volumetric and linear dimensions. The secondary outcome is to evaluate volumetric outcomes (such as gender, age, and graft size) together with patient (including smoking) and surgery-related factors that may affect the outcome.