Blood Flow Analysis of the Human Mucosa After Vestibuloplasty Procedures

Vestibuloplasty is the common name of those procedures designed to widen the zone of attached gingiva. The apically repositioned split thickness flap with a xenogeneic collagen matrix or with a combination of strip gingival graft and a xenogeneic collagen matrix are frequently used surgical techniques, however no data are available, how these graft tissues affect the microcirculation of the healing gingiva. LSCI is a non-invasive, two dimensional method to evaluate microcirculation of different tissues. This new method let us monitor the entire surgical area real-time during the healing period. The aim of the present study is to define blood flow patterns, which might characterize the wound healing of such surgical procedures during the first 6 months of healing in order to facilitate treatment.