Effect of a phthalocyanine mouthrinse after connective tissue graft surgery for root coverage: a randomized split-mouth clinical trial

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To evaluate effects of self-activating phthalocyanine mouthrinse on recipient sites of subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG), considering clinical outcomes, professional and patient assessments and quantitative somatosensory changes. Materials and methods This randomized controlled, crossover, split-mouth clinical trial included 20 patients treated with SCTG plus coronally advanced flap (CAF). Recipient sites received 0.12% iron phthalocyanine mouthrinse (test group-PHY) and 0.12% chlorhexidine (control group-CHX) during 14 postoperative days. The primary outcome was percentage of root coverage (%RC) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included clinical parameters (probing depth, PD; recession depth and width, RD, RW; percentage of complete root coverage (CRC); clinical attachment level, CAL; keratinized tissue thickness and width, KTT, KTW), professional- and patient-reported outcomes, mechanical detection threshold (MDT) and mechanical pain threshold (MPT). Results PHY and CHX groups showed significant improvements in clinical parameters, including reduced RD and RW, CAL gain, and increased KTW and KTT ( p < 0.05). %RC was similar between groups, at approximately 80%. Professional- and patient-reported outcomes, including dentin hypersensitivity and esthetic perception, as well as MPT and MDT, showed no significant differences between groups. Postoperative symptoms decreased progressively, and oral health-related quality of life remained unchanged after 6 months. Conclusions Postoperative use of phthalocyanine after CAF + SCTG resulted in clinical outcomes comparable to chlorhexidine, including similar root coverage, with no differences in professional-, patient-centered outcomes, somatosensory profile, or oral health-related quality of life. Clinical Relevance Iron phthalocyanine may represent a promising alternative for postoperative care in periodontal plastic surgeries.