A split-mouth randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effect of local and systemic administration of vitamin C on extraction wound healing.

A split-mouth single-blind randomized-controlled clinical trial study was designed to investigate the effect of local and systemic vitamin C administration on extraction wound healing. Thirty patients who underwent bilateral premolar extraction were randomly divided into three group pairs; group 1: control and systemic administration (Con/CSA), group 2: control and a combination of local and systemic administration (Con/CLSA), and group 3: systemic and a combination of local and systemic administration (CSA/CLSA). The vitamin C (600 mg) was taken by swallowing (systemic administration) or slow oral dissolution (combined local and systemic administration). The socket size and radiographic density were evaluated immediately after extraction, and 7 days and 21 days later. The results demonstrated that the percentage radiographic density of new bone formation in the socket did not differ significantly within each group. However, in the CSA and CLSA group there was an improvement of soft tissue healing based in terms of socket depth reduction at 21 days after extraction compared with the control (P < 0.05).