Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18 years or older. * Periodontal health, with gingival index (GI) ≤1, bleeding on probing (BOP) ≤10%, probing depths ≤3 mm, and no periodontitis. * Thick gingival phenotype with moderate to severe physiologic melanin pigmentation, corresponding to DOPI scores of 2-3, affecting the facial gingiva of the anterior and premolar regions bilaterally. * Good oral hygiene, with plaque index (PI) ≤1 and calculus index (CI) ≤1. Exclusion Criteria: * Thin gingival phenotype at the treatment sites. * Uncontrolled systemic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus. * Pregnancy or lactation. * Use of medications or presence of conditions affecting hemostasis or wound healing. * Oral pigmentation attributable to causes other than physiologic melanin pigmentation, including metallic pigmentation, amalgam tattoo, traumatic tattoo, or pigmentation associated with malignant conditions. * Use of medications or chemical agents known to induce oral pigmentation, including antimalarial drugs, minocycline, ketoconazole, or oral contraceptives. * Current smoking.