Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33966113›Full record

Trial reportClinical oral investigations2021

Vitamin C mesotherapy versus topical application for gingival hyperpigmentation: a clinical and histopathological study.

Mohamed El-Mofty, Sarah Elkot, Amira Ghoneim, Dalia Yossri, Ola Mohammed Ezzatt

Erratum issuedAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Clinical oral investigations, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 25 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.

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  9. How Effective Is Vitamin C for Gingival Depigmentation? A Scoping Review.Clinical and experimental dental research · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Mohamed El-MoftyDepartment of Oral Medicine, Periodontology Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain-Shams University, 20 Organization of African Union St., Cairo, 1156, Egypt.
Sarah ElkotDepartment of Oral Medicine, Periodontology, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Future University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
Amira GhoneimDepartment of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Industries, Future University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
Dalia YossriDepartment of Oral Medicine, Periodontology Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain-Shams University, 20 Organization of African Union St., Cairo, 1156, Egypt.
Ola Mohammed EzzattDepartment of Oral Medicine, Periodontology Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain-Shams University, 20 Organization of African Union St., Cairo, 1156, Egypt. dr.ola@dent.asu.edu.eg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1656-5076
Ain Shams University · EGFuture University in Egypt · EG

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveVitamin C/Ascorbic acid inhibits tyrosinase enzyme causing melanin biosynthesis suppression. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of intra-mucosal injection (mesotherapy) with topical gel as non-surgical methods for managing gingival hyperpigmentation. MATERIALS AND

methodsTwenty healthy non-smokers with mild to severe hyperpigmented gingiva were randomly assigned for Mesotherapy (G1); intra-mucosal injection of ascorbic acid (1/week/3 weeks); or Gel (G2), topical ascorbic acid gel (1/day/3 months). Pigmentation index (DOPI), patient satisfaction, as well as histological analysis for Fontana-Masson-stained specimens were performed at baseline and after 6 months. Comparison between groups and changes by time were analyzed using Mann-Whitney and Friedman's tests, respectively.

resultsThe median DOPI significantly decreased after 1 month in G1 (P value < 0.001, r = 0.9) compared with non-significant change in G2. No pain experienced during or after treatment in both groups. G1 patients showed significantly higher satisfaction with treatment than G2. Mean area fraction of melanin forming cells was significantly reduced in both groups after 6 months, but the effect size was higher in G1 (r = 0.886) than in G2 (r = 0.797).

conclusionsVitamin C mesotherapy showed better and early effect than topical gel, and both techniques were not painful and esthetically satisfying in managing gingival hyperpigmentation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Gingival melanin pigmentation causes esthetic concerns for significant number of patients. Investigating non-surgical depigmentation techniques to decrease postoperative complications and patient discomfort, pain and long healing period associated with surgical methods would be clinically significant.

Indexed as

Gingival DiseasesHyperpigmentationMesotherapyAscorbic AcidEsthetics, DentalHumansMelaninsAscorbic AcidMelaninsAscorbic acidDepigmentationGelIntramucosalMelanin

Identifiers

PMID33966113
OpenAlexW3160576369

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.