Orsini, MarcoBenlloch, DuniaAranda Macera, Juan JoséFlores, KarinaRíos-Santos, J.V.Pedruelo, Francisco JavierRíos Carrasco, BlancaCesare, Massimo di2020-12-162020-12-162020-09-09Orsini, M., Benlloch, D., Aranda Macera, .J., Flores, K., Ríos-Santos, J.V., Pedruelo, F.J.,...,Cesare, M.d. (2020). Improvement of Periodontal Parameters with the Sole Use of Free Gingival Grafts in Orthodontic Patients: Correlation with Periodontal Indices. A 15-Month Clinical Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (18), 1-11.1660-46011661-7827https://hdl.handle.net/11441/103319The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in periodontal parameters solely using free gingival grafts during orthodontic treatment without any oral hygiene re-enforcement. Methods: A total of 19 patients underwent periodontal examination before orthodontic treatment. Patients received oral hygiene instruction and professional hygiene therapy. Where needed; full periodontal treatment was completed. Only periodontally stable patients were included in the study. Periodontal indices and keratinized tissue were recorded at time 0 (T0) (delivery of orthodontic appliances), and at three months (T1) during orthodontic therapy; when surgery was performed. At T1; orthodontically treated sites with minimum keratinized tissue (≤1 mm) received a free gingival graft to enhance the band of keratinized tissue. At three months after surgery (T2), new measurements were recorded. The orthodontics-treated sites after three months (T1) were used as control. The same sites were used as a test three months after mucogingival correction (T2). Between T1 and T2; orthodontics was suspended; no professional oral hygiene was performed; and no additional oral hygiene instructions were given to the patient. No oral hygiene procedures were administered for 15 months (T3), when the final recordings were taken. Results: The results showed that there was a worsening of gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI) of the treated sites between T0 and T1 during initial orthodontics treatment; whereas there was an improvement of the gingival inflammation at T2 when compared with T1. At T2; there was also a statistically significant improvement in GI and PI compared with T0. A T3 improvement in periodontal parameters was sustained. A non-parametric test (Wilcoxon signed-rank test) was used for statistical analysis. Conclusions: Augmentation of the width of keratinized gingiva; as the sole treatment; favors the improvement of GI and PI during orthodontic therapyapplication/pdf11engAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacionalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Gingival graftsOrthodonticsPeriodontal indexFree gingival graftsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186578