AGING EFFECTS ON DENTAL GUM TISSUE

September 7, 2026 updated by: The Forsyth Institute

EFFECT OF AGING ON THE GENE EXPRESSION AND HISTOMORPHOLOGY OF DENTAL GUM TISSUE

This is an epidemiological, cross-sectional two-visit study involving 100 Caucasian subjects representing 6 different age groups [20 to 24 (20s), 30 to 34 (30s), 40 to 44 (40s), 50 to 54 (50s), 60 to 64 (60s), and 70 to 74 (70s)]. Medically healthy subjects will receive a screening exam to determine their oral status. Subjects without periodontal disease will be enrolled in the study where two 2 mm gingival biopsy will be obtained using punch biopsy from the healthy attached gingiva around upper premolar teeth. Tissues will be processed and analyzed for histological and transcriptomics analyses targeting morphological changes and gene expression in gingival tissues with aging.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This is an epidemiological, cross-sectional two-visit study involving 100 Caucasian subjects representing 6 different age groups [20 to 24 (20s), 30 to 34 (30s), 40 to 44 (40s), 50 to 54 (50s), 60 to 64 (60s), and 70 to 74 (70s)]. From each group, eighteen subjects (9 females and 9 males) will be recruited (except for the 60's and 70's groups where 14 subjects/group - 7 females and 7 males, will be recruited). At the screening visit, subjects will receive an oral soft tissue (OST) exam followed by a full periodontal exam including probing pocket depth (PPD), the difference between gingival margin and cementoenamel junction, clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP). Subjects who meet all inclusion/exclusion criteria will receive a professional dental exam to assess the clinical status of their mouth; additionally, they will have an image of the anterior teeth taken and will fill out a questionnaire on their oral hygiene habits. At the second study visit, a 3 ml saliva sample will be collected for a saliva flow rate assessment and biomarkers analysis. Subgingival plaque samples will be taken with paper points from the tooth adjacent to the selected biopsy area, i.e. the upper second premolar. Additionally, blood (10 ml) samples for biomarker analysis and two- 2 mm-punch gingival biopsies for gene expression and histomorphology evaluations will be taken from each subject.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
100

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals between the ages of 20-74 with healthy oral tissues will be included.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • provide written informed consent to participate in the study.
  • be at the ages specified within age groups.
  • male or female of the Caucasian race
  • agree not to participate in any other oral/dental product studies during the course of this study.
  • agree to delay any elective dentistry (including dental prophylaxis) until the study has been completed.
  • agree to return for all scheduled visits and follow study procedures.
  • have at least 16 natural teeth (excluding wisdom teeth).
  • be in good general health, as determined by the Investigator/designee based on a review of the health history/update for participation in the study.
  • healthy gingival tissue suitable for biopsy in the maxillary premolar area (per examiner discretion).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • use of antibiotics 3 months prior to the study
  • smoking or smoking cessation <1 year;
  • any diseases or conditions to be expected to interfere with the examination or with the subject safely completing the study;
  • history of drug use that is associated with gum overgrowth (i.e., dilantin, nifedipine, etc) or drugs that are known to inhibit salivary flow (i.e. antipsychotics etc.);
  • chronic use of medication such as steroids, ibuprofen or acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin/ASA) more than 2-3 days/week), anti-coagulant medications, immunosuppressant medications or any other medications that in the opinion of the Investigator would interfere with the evaluation or confound interpretation of the study results. Use of low dose of ASA is permitted;
  • previous gum surgery that might interfere with gum biopsy collection;
  • presence or history of periodontal disease (at least 2 pockets 6mm);
  • all teeth that are grossly carious, fully crowned, or extensively restored (per investigator discretion);
  • any condition requiring the need for antibiotic pre-medication prior to dental procedures;
  • current participation in any other oral/dental product studies;
  • pregnancy or lactation;
  • diabetes, autoimmune or infectious diseases, dry mouth, skin diseases;
  • orthodontic appliances

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Association between age and gene expression
Time Frame: Through the study completion, about 6 months
Gene expression in gingival tissues will be studied with regard to age of the study participants
Through the study completion, about 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
The Forsyth Institute

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Procter and Gamble

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Hatice Hasturk, DDS., Ph.D., Forsyth Institute

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 3, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 11, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 13, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 7, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2012007

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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