Hyalouronic Acid and Periodontal Surgery

This study investigated the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid gel in enhancing soft tissue healing after periodontal surgery for residual pockets (5-8 mm). A 3-month prospective, randomized controlled trial included 26 patients from Aristotle University\'s Postgraduate Periodontology Clinic who had completed initial periodontal therapy and exhibited at least one residual pocket. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (receiving 0.6 ml hyaDENT BG hyaluronic acid gel) or a control group (receiving 0.6 ml saline). Before surgery, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected for inflammatory and healing biomarkers (PGE-2, MMP-9, IL-1β, VEGF, EGF), analyzed using ELISA. Surgery was performed at sites with persistent pockets, and follow-ups occurred at 14 days and 3 months postoperatively. Healing was assessed using the Landry, Turnbull, and Howley Wound Healing Index (WHI). Clinical parameters, including probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BoP), clinical attachment level (CAL), and plaque index (PI), were measured at 3 months, with treatment success defined as PPD ≤4 mm without BoP. Patient-reported outcomes, such as pain, swelling, chewing, speech, and aesthetics, were evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS).