Effect of GaAlAs 940 Laser on Pain and Wound Healing After Free Gingival Graft

University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City36 enrolled

Overview

This randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the biomodulatory effects of a 940-nm GaAlAs diode laser on postoperative pain control and wound healing at the palatal donor site following free gingival graft harvesting. Adult patients undergoing free gingival graft surgery will be randomly allocated to receive either a single session of adjunctive diode laser irradiation immediately after surgery or conventional postoperative care alone. Postoperative pain will be assessed using a visual analog scale, while clinical parameters related to wound healing, including bleeding tendency, epithelialization, and wound size reduction, will be evaluated at predefined follow-up time points. The findings of this study may contribute to the clinical understanding of photobiomodulation in free gingival graft surgery.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Low Level Laser Therapy Healthy Postoperative Pain Management Wound Healing

Interventions

940 nm GaAlAs diode laserDEVICE

A single session of 940-nm GaAlAs diode laser irradiation is applied to the palatal donor site immediately after free gingival graft harvesting using a continuous, non-contact mode (0.1 W, 4 J/cm² for 40 seconds), in combination with the use of a palatal stent.

palatal stentDEVICE

In the control group, only the palatal stent was applied without laser irradiation after suturing was completed at the recipient site

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. ≥18 years of age; 2. systemically healthy individuals without any conditions that could affect wound healing (e.g., diabetes, immunosuppression, coagulation disorders, Candida infection; 3. full-mouth plaque score (FMPS) and full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS) \<15%; 4. no previous history of palatal tissue harvesting; 5. no use of overdentures or partial dentures covering the donor area. Exclusion Criteria: 1. pregnant or breastfeeding women; 2. smokers; 3. patients with psychiatric disorders; and 4. patients taking any medications that impair tissue healing and affect pain perception.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Postoperative pain

Zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.

Time frame: 2 hours, 3 days, and 7 days after surgery

Post-surgical analgesic consumption

The number of 500-mg acetaminophen tablets consumed by participants during the first 3 days after surgery.

Time frame: Within 3 days after surgery

Epithelialization of the palatal donor site

Epithelialization at the palatal donor site assessed as a binary outcome (yes/no) using a hydrogen peroxide bubbling test, classified as non-epithelialized (presence of bubbles) or completely epithelialized (absence of bubbles).

Time frame: Day 7 and 14 after surgery

Remaining wound area

Changes in palatal donor site wound area measured using serial intraoral digital scans obtained at predefined follow-up time points

Time frame: Immediately after surgery, and 3, 7, and 14 days after surgery