Application of laser and cryosurgery in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

The laser, with its ability to use electromagnetic energy in its most efficient and concentrated form, has held out promise as a surgical tool for 20 years. However, its early promise has not been fulfilled, and with a few isolated exceptions, the laser has not gained widespread acceptance in surgical circles. Recent developments regarding delivery systems and different lasing media have, however, stimulated renewed interest. Similarly, cryosurgery, with its ability to devitalize tissues by the use of extreme cold, has been available in a controllable form in surgery for nearly 30 years. Lack of precision has prevented its widespread use, but it may still have an important role in a number of specialized areas, such as cryoneurectomy and the management of locally aggressive tumors of bone.