A study on gingival blood flow change of free gingival graft sites using Laser Doppler Flowmetry

Chun, Dong Young; Park, Byung Ki; Yeom, Chang Yeob; Kim, Jae Deok; Kim, Su Gwan; Kim, Byung Ock

Abstract

In most of the previous studies, invasive and discrete techniques have been used to monitor the healing process of the gingival graft. However, Laser Doppler Flowmetry(LDF, floLAB, Moor Instruments Ltd., England) is a non-invasive technique for measurement of blood flow in the tissue and also allows continuous monitoring. Thus, we tested the usefulness of LDF in monitoring the healing process of free gingival graft at gingival recession. Eleven gingival graft site of 7 patients, including 5 males and 2 females, aged between 21 and 41 years (mean age 28.5) were monitored for the blood flow. The blood flow in gingival graft at coronal site, central site, apical site, mesial site and distal site was measured using LDF. Blood flow was measured at 1- week, 2- week, 3- week and 4- week after gingival graft surgery from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Time-course of the healing process was evaluated by statistical analysis using repeated ANOVA and Duncan test. The results were as follows : (1) Blood flow stayed increased for 2 weeks, and then, it was a tendency to decrease. (2) The blood flow at distal site had always higher than mesial site during the measuring periods. (3) The blood flow was high orderly after 1 week ; most coronal site, most apical site, central site. But that was high orderly after 2 week, 3 week, 4 week ; most coronal site, central site, most apical site. In conclusion, LDF was a useful and clinically adaptable method to monitor wound healing process. Our study suggested that it was important to protect surgical site to promote initial wound healing.