Data collection and statistical analysis
All data collected from patients using clinical parameters were recorded electronically for statistical analysis. Categorical data are presented as frequencies (n), and percentages (%), and the chi square test was used for the analysis. Quantitative data were explored for normality using Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk tests and are presented as the mean and standard deviation (SD). Parametric data of age, lesion size and salivary level of MDA were analyzed using independent t test for intergroup comparisons and repeated measures ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test. VAS data showed a nonparametric distribution so they were analyzed using the Mann -Whitney U test for intergroup comparisons and the Friedman test of repeated measures for intragroup comparisons. When the Friedman test was significant, it was followed by multiple pairwise comparisons utilizing the Wilcoxon signed rank test with Bonferroni correction. The significance level was set at 