Correlation Between Gingival Biotype and Post-Surgical Scarring Following Minor Oral Surgical Procedures

Abstract

Background The relevance of post operative aesthetic assimilation into the oral cavity is an important aspect of clinically significant maxillary soft tissue intra-oral surgical procedures. However, a link between gingival phenotype andresidual mucosals scarring has not been sufficiently elucidated. Objective To assess correlation between baseline gingival phenotype and 12 weeks esthetic wound closure among subjects receiving flap-reflection oral surgeries. Methods a prospective analytical observational study was conducted among 78 eligible health individuals age range 18-45 years who had undergone minor oral surgical procedures on anterior or premolar region of the maxillary jaws in Islamabad-Rawalpindi region, between June and November 2025. Preoperative probe translucency was used to assess and group participants to categories of thick (n=43) or thin (n=35) gingival phenotype. Standardize pre-operative photograph evaluation at 12 weeks was performed separately for linearly aligned, contour match, color match and the overall cosmetic result. Independent samples t test was conducted to determine difference in continuous outcomes whereas chis-quare was performed for categorical outcomes. Results Overall aesthetic result was higher (8.42±0.91 vs 6.14 ±1.25; difference=2.28; 95% CI 1.79-2.77, p<0.001, Hedges’ g=2.10) for individuals with thick gingival phenotype compared to the thin phenotype group.  Presence of esthetic impairment was found in 4 (9.3%) participant who had thick phenotype and in 21 (60%) participant with thin phenotype (RR=6.45, 95% CI 2.44-17.04; p<0.001).  Conclusion presence of thin gingival phenotype is correlated with impaired 12 week oral wound healing, however establishing a causality could not be assessed due to observational study design