“Comparative evaluation of microneedling alone and microneedling along with 2% curcumin gel application in the Management of gingival hyperpigmentation: a split mouth prospective case series.”

Abstract

Background: Gingival hyperpigmentation is an aesthetic concern, and minimally invasivetechniques such as microneedling may provide an alternative to conventional depigmentationprocedures. Curcumin may act as a potential adjunct because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Aim: To compare the clinical effect of microneedling alone withmicroneedling combined with 2% curcumin gel for gingival depigmentation. Methods: A split-mouth prospective case series was conducted in 5 participants, involving 10 treatment sites. Fivesites received microneedling alone and five received microneedling with 2% curcumin gel.Gingival pigmentation was assessed using the Dummett-Gupta Oral Pigmentation Index (DOPI)at baseline, 1, 4 and 12 weeks. Results: DOPI scores decreased from 3.0 at baseline to 1.9 at 12weeks with microneedling alone and to 1.5 with microneedling combined with 2% curcumin gel.Both approaches showed reduction in pigmentation, with a greater reduction observed in thecurcumin group. Conclusion: Microneedling demonstrated a clinically evident reduction ingingival hyperpigmentation, while adjunctive 2% curcumin gel showed an additional reductionin DOPI scores. Larger studies with longer follow-up are required to confirm these preliminaryfindings.