title: Diode laser for harvesting de-epithelialized palatal graft in the treatment of gingival recession defects: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of present randomized controlled clinical study was to evaluate the effects of the use of diode laser for graft harvesting and palatal wound irradiation on post-operative morbidity and root coverage outcomes after a coronally advanced flap (CAF) with de-epithelialized gingival grafts (DGG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients with isolated recessions were treated. The CTG resulted from the de-epithelialization of a free gingival graft (FGG) with blade (control group:DGG-B) or diode laser (DL) (test group:DGG-L). The DL was used to de-epithelialize the outer part of the FGG and photo-biostimulate the palatal wound area. Post-operative morbidity was evaluated by using Oral Health-related Quality of Life (OHQoL) and Visual Analogue Scale-discomfort (VAS). Root coverage outcomes were also evaluated 6 months after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences were found for OHQoL (p = 0.0001) and VAS (p = 0.0001) at the 7th day post-operatively favouring test sites. Root coverage results did not show a statistically significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While both techniques were effective with regard to root coverage at 6 months, the DGG-L technique decreased post-operative morbidity associated with palatal donor-site surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozcelik
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulsah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seydaoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cenk Mehmet
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Haytac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003238:Connective Tissue; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: diode laser; donor site; free gingival graft; gingival recession; low-intensity laser; mucogingival surgery; palatal healing