Efficacy of fresh Aloe vera extract in postoperative healing following periodontal surgery in patients with chronic periodontitis: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Aloe vera is known for its wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties which may be used for periodontal healing. Early healing of the gingival and periodontal wounds promotes the favorable treatment outcome. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of Aloe vera on wound healing following periodontal flap surgery. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with chronic periodontitis requiring periodontal flap surgery were included in this double-blinded, split mouth, randomized, and controlled clinical trial. Sixty interproximal sites were divided into test and control groups. The test sites received an application of fresh Aloe vera extract postoperatively. Postoperative healing was assessed using early healing index (EHI) after the first week and HI after first, second, and third weeks following therapy by a blinded examiner. Results: All patients completed the study (nine male and six female, age range: 30–50 [34.15 ± 3.46] years). Better healing was observed in test sites in comparison to control sites in the first postoperative week as recorded by EHI (P < 0.001) and HI (P = 0.02). However, there were no significant differences between the test and control sites in the second (P = 0.10) and third (P = 0.53) weeks. Conclusion: The application of fresh Aloe vera extract was effective in significantly improving healing scores in the first postoperative week.