Effectiveness of Vitamin C for Gingival Depigmentation: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: This systematic review is meant to evaluate the effectiveness of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in gingival depigmentation and assess its potential as a minimally invasive alternative for managing gingival hyperpigmentation. Materials and Methods: Electronic searches were conducted across major databases, yielding eight relevant studies, including five randomized clinical trials and three case series. These studies reported different application techniques, with intramucosal injection (mesotherapy) being the most frequently used approach. Results: All studies demonstrated improvement in gingival pigmentation following vitamin C therapy, as assessed by indices such as the Dummett-Gupta oral pigmentation index (DOPI). Mesotherapy generally produced faster and more pronounced results than topical gel application. High patient satisfaction and minimal adverse effects were consistently reported. Nevertheless, marked heterogeneity in study design, dosing, and outcome evaluation limited direct comparison among studies. Conclusions: Vitamin C shows promise as an effective, safe, and minimally invasive treatment for gingival depigmentation. However, standardized clinical protocols and long-term randomized trials are required to establish its comparative efficacy and ensure consistent outcomes.