J Korean Dent Sci.  2023 Dec;16(2):172-181. 10.5856/JKDS.2023.16.2.172.

Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor with Collagen Matrix on Increasing Gingival Thickness: A Pilot Preclinical Investigation

• Lim HC
• Herr Y
• Chung JH
• Shin SY
• Shin SI
• Hong JY

• KMID: 2549612
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5856/JKDS.2023.16.2.172

Abstract

Purpose
To investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) with collagen matrix (CM) for increasing gingival thickness.
Materials and Methods
In five mongrel dogs, bilateral gingival defects were surgically made on the maxillary canines. After two months, either a subepithelial connective tissue graft (group SCTG) or CM with EGF (0.1 ug/ml, group EGF) was grafted, and the flap was coronally positioned to cover the graft materials. The animals were sacrificed after three months. Intraoral scanning was performed for soft tissue analysis. Histologic and histomorphometric analyses were performed. Result: Two animals exhibited wound dehiscence during the healing phase, leaving three for analysis. No statistically significant difference was found in soft tissue changes (P>0.05). The level of gingival margin (GM) increased in both groups (1.02±0.74 mm in group SCTG vs. 1.24±0.83 mm in group EGF). Linear increases at the GM preaugmentation in the soft tissue profile were 1.08±0.58 mm in group SCTG and 0.96±0.73 mm in group EGF. Histomorphometric parameters (keratinized tissue height, tissue thickness, and rete peg density) were not significantly different between the groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion
EGF loaded onto CM led to comparable gingival phenotype enhancement to SCTG.

Keyword

Alveolar ridge augmentation; Animal model; Autografts; Epidermal growth factor; Tissue scaffolds