Efficacy of 980 nm diode laser and 2940 nm Er: YAG laser in gingival depigmentation: A comparative study.

Abstract

Gingival hyper-pigmentation is an esthetics problem in patients with excessive gingival display. Laser ablation has been suggested recently as the most effective, pleasant, and reliable technique for gingival depigmentation compared to blade surgery. The present study aimed to identify and compare the effectiveness of two types of lasers, Er:YAG laser-2940nm and Diode laser-980nm, in gingival depigmentation in the maxilla and mandible. 20 participants, 16 males, and 4 females, whose ages ranged between 18 and 35years, were recruited using simplified random sampling. Oral pigmentation was measured at pre- and two postoperative follow-ups, 1month, and 6months, according to the oral pigmentation index. Furthermore, the study assessed postoperative intensity of pain using the Visual Analogue Scale, bleeding and healing process in both groups. There was a significant decrease in the oral pigmentation index scores, 1month (0.90±0.64) and 6months (1.55±0.60) after the operation (P<.001). No significant differences were detected between the two study groups regarding the mean ranking on the oral pigmentation index pre-operatively (P=.547), 1month after the operation (P=.154), and 6months after the operation (P=.831). The Er:YAG laser and Diode laser both significantly reduced gingival pigmentation with no significant differences between the effectiveness of the two types of laser in treating gingival hyper-pigmentation.