IP International Journal of Periodontology and Implantology
Official Publication of Khyati Education And Research Foundation
Official Publication of Khyati Education And Research Foundation
Aim & Objectives: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of the use of diode LASER in the treatment of chronic inflammatory gingival overgrowth over the conventional use of the scalpel surgical technique. Introduction: Gingival overgrowth describes a generalised or localised enlargement of the gingival tissues. It is a heterogeneous group of disorders causing esthetic, functional, masticatory and psychological disturbances. When gingival enlargement is not resolved through hygiene measures, a surgical intervention (gingivectomy) is mandatory to return the gingival to its anatomical and physiological conditions.When perusing the literature it was found the lack of any studies comparing diode laser with conventional surgery procedure in gingivectomies in adult patient. In this study it was aimed to compare the effects of diode laser with conventional scalpel surgery on various ingtra and post operatove parameters. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one patients with chronic inflammatory gingival overgrowth were recruited and surgically treated and monitored clinically baseline (before SRP) and 30 and 90 days after SRP. All patients were randomly assigned to a Test (LASER, n=10) or Control (scalpel, n=11) group. The data were statistically analyzed. Results: Better hemostasis was observed in the test group than the control group with a statistically significant difference (p=0.001). The healing in the test group was better than in the control group and was statistical significant when recorded at 10th day (p=0.001), 1 month (p=0.02) post, but no statistical difference was observed at 3 month post-operatively (p=0.25). Based on the mean VAS score recorded at 24hrs and 72hrs post operatively, patients were fully comfortable in the test group till 72 hrs post operatively, but in the control group patients were slightly uncomfortable after the procedure. Conclusion: it can be concluded that results of both the groups were comparable in relation to all the parameters yet the sites treated with Laser were better in terms hemostasis, wound healing, patient comfort and need for local infiltration. Hence, within the limits of the study, it can be concluded that Laser proves to be a reliable alternative surgical tool to treat gingival overgrowth, offering advantages like bloodless field, sterilization of the surgical site, less postoperative pain with better healing and more patient comfort.
Diode Laser, Gingival Enlargement, patient satisfaction