Palatal Wound Healing After Free Gingival Graft Harvest in Diabetic Patients: A Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria: * aged ≥ 18 years; * non-diabetic and diabetic patients (HbA1c\>7% (American Diabetes Association 2025) managed with oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin; * in the need of gingival recession treatment (RT1) in upper or lower arches with identifiable or restored cement-enamel junction (CEJ); * periodontal stable (BoP ≤25%)(Lang et al. 2003); * no morphological or pathological conditions in the palatal mucosa. Exclusion Criteria: * patients with cardiovascular, blood dyscrasias, and immunodeficiency that contraindicate surgical procedures; * taking medications known to interfere with the wound healing process or that contraindicate the surgical procedure; * Pregnancy/lactation (assessed via self-report); * current opportunistic oral lesions that mainly colonize the palate region; * subjects that have taken antibiotics within the last 3 months or need for antibiotic prophylaxis; * prisoners; * signs or symptoms of active extra-oral head and neck infection (swelling) as determined by a dentist at the time of evaluation; * subjects who cannot read or speak English or Spanish, and do not agree to having the assistance of an interpreter