Cryosurgery, and its application to oral surgery.

The biological mechanisms of tissue necrosis by controlled freezing are discussed, with particular reference to their importance in cryosurgical technique. The clinical events following cryosurgery are decribed, together with common complications. As the oral mucosa is particularly amenable to this form of treatment, it has been used on a wide variety of oral lesions. From observations based on the treatment of over 300 patients, the advantages, disadvantages, relative indications and suitable variations in technique of cryosurgery are discussed.