Efficacy of honey in comparison to topical corticosteroid for treatment of recurrent minor aphthous ulceration: a randomized, blind, controlled, parallel, double-center clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent aphthous ulceration represents a very common mucosal disorder that general dentists may encounter on a daily basis, and for which there is no curative treatment. The best treatment that can be achieved is to avoid local traumatic precipitants, lessen the pain and duration of ulceration by suppressing the local immune response, and prevent secondary infection. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to clinically determine the efficacy of honey as a topical treatment of recurrent minor aphthous ulceration in a Saudi cohort. METHOD AND MATERIALS: A randomized, blind, controlled, parallel, double-center clinical trial was carried out. Honey was applied by patients four times a day for 5 days. Clinical parameters (ulcer size, pain scale, and degree of erythema and healing) were recorded both at baseline and during the follow-up period. RESULTS: There were 94 subjects, with 180 minor recurrent aphthous ulcerations. The ulcers were distributed as 67, 57, and 56 ulcers for honey, topical corticosteroid, and Orabase treatment, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the honey group and the other two groups in terms of reduction of ulcer size, days of pain, and degree of erythema. No side effects were reported in any group. CONCLUSION: Honey was found to be effective and safe in reducing minor aphthous ulcer pain, size, and erythema in a Saudi cohort.

Use of pedicled buccal fat pad in root coverage of severe gingival recession defect.

BACKGROUND: Gingival recession in its localized or generalized form is an undesirable condition resulting in root exposure. Sites exhibiting Miller Class IV gingival recession are not suitable for treatment with surgical root coverage techniques, and their prognoses are very poor with current techniques. The aim of this case report is to establish a new technique for the root coverage of severe gingival recession defects (Miller Class IV) by providing a new source of enough tissue with good blood supply using the pedicled buccal fat pad (PBFP). METHODS: The PBFP was mobilized through an incision in the base of the buccal flap at the level of the upper second molar; the vascularized flap was secured to the buccal surface of the upper first molar tooth and premolar teeth and sutured with the wound margins. RESULTS: A clinically significant amount of keratinized gingiva that covered the root recession defect was obtained. Epithelialization of the buccal fat pad was completed after 6 weeks, with formation of healthy-looking keratinized mucosa in the anatomic site of the keratinized gingiva. CONCLUSIONS: The PBFP technique is simple and easy to handle. It may also be considered a novel application with promising results for the root coverage of severe gingival recession defects (Miller Class IV) that may provide a considerable amount of keratinized tissue used for root coverage of the upper posterior molar teeth.