Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine - Department of Periodontology

Objective : Evaluate the efficiency of vitamin C as a depigmenting agent in patients with physiologic gingival hyperpigmentation and assess its clinical and histopathologic effect on the patients{u2019} gingival health.Background data: Gingival melanin hyperpigmentation is an aesthetic problem which concern many individuals. Various surgical and non-surgical approaches have been reported for its management but most of them are associated with hazardous effects. Methods: Forty patients suffering from physiologic gingival melanin hyperpigmentation was included. Intraepidermal injection of vitamin C was repeated once per week until no visible pigmentation. The patients were recalled after 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment for follow up.Results: There is a decrease in pigmentation indices scores and reduction in the area with a significant statistical difference between pre-operative visit and both injection as well as follow-up visits. Regarding gingival health, the results revealed a reduction in mean SBI scores after vitamin C injection and statistical significant improvement of the gingival biotype with shift from the thin gingival biotype to the thick one.Conclusion: Vitamin C injection is a safe, minimally invasive non-surgical depigmenting technique which improves health of gingival tissues

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