The effect of probiotic use on wound healing after free gingival graft application

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotics solution containing lactobacillus reuteri on the healing of recepient wound surface after free gingival graft operation. The study was conducted on 24 systemically healthy patients aged 18-55 years with localized gingival recession in the anterior mandible in a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled design. Individuals were randomized into probiotic or placebo (saline) groups. After the free gingival graft operation, all individuals applied topical probiotic (test group) or topical saline serum (control group) 2 times a day for 10 days, as 1 drop twice a day, to the recipient site where the graft was placed. 1 drop of probiotic contained 20 million active lyophilized L.reuteri cultures. Epithelialization after the procedure was evaluated with H2O2 while color-match and pain was evaluated with VAS (Visual Analog Scale) on 7th-14th-21st-28th days and at 6 months. The results of the study showed that there was no significant differences between the groups in terms of VAS pain, epithelialization and keratinized gingival amount (p>0.05). VAS color was found to be statistically more successful in the probiotic group at 6 months (p<0.05) After free gingival graft operation, no additional efficacy of topical application of probiotics to the recipient area on wound healing was detected. Further studies on the subject are needed. Keywords: Free Gingival Graft, Wound Healing, Probiotics