Walid Altayeb1, Omar Hamadah2, Bahaa Aldin Alhaffar3, Ahmed Abdullah4, Georgios Romanos5. 1. Department of Periodontology, Tamim Dental Polyclinic, P.O. Box 13876, Alwaab Street, Doha, Qatar. draltayeb@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria. 3. Department of Oral Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria. 4. Graduate School, Abertay University, Dundee, UK. 5. Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency of depigmentation, patient perceptions, and the recurrence rates of physiological gingival pigments during a 2-year follow-up after ablative depigmentation using two laser wavelengths: diode 940 nm and Er,Cr:YSGG 2780 nm. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Sixty patients exhibiting physiological melanin hyperpigmentation in the buccal maxillary gingiva were randomly divided into two equal groups treated with an Er,Cr:YSGG laser at 2780 nm, and a 940 nm diode laser, respectively. The depigmentation procedure essentially involves the ablation of epithelial tissue exhibiting melanin pigmentation. The intensity and extensity indices of gingival pigments were evaluated at baseline, 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years. RESULTS: At all time points following depigmentation treatment, oral pigmentation index (OPI) and melaninpigmentation index (MPI) scores were less significantly (p <0.05) compared to the baseline in both groups. Treatment was significantly faster with Er,Cr:YSGG laser and required no anesthesia, with faster healing and less postoperative discomfort after 1-week of treatment, compared to the diode laser treatment (p <0.001). The re-pigmentation intensity and extensity were higher significantly in the Er,Cr:YSGG group than in the diode group at 1 year and 2 years (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Both lasers efficiently removed gingival pigments with comparable clinical outcomes and overall positive patient experience. Diode laser treatment exhibited better long-term stability of gingival color, with a lower incidence of re-pigmentation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The color of the gingiva plays an important role in the esthetics of oral soft tissues and the overall ideal smile. Laser-assisted gingival depigmentation is an effective, comfortable, and reliable technique with good esthetical outcomes. The rate of re-pigmentation was affected by the laser wavelength and the technique used.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency of depigmentation, patient perceptions, and the recurrence rates of physiological gingival pigments during a 2-year follow-up after ablative depigmentation using two laser wavelengths: diode 940 nm and Er,Cr:YSGG 2780 nm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients exhibiting physiological melanin hyperpigmentation in the buccal maxillary gingiva were randomly divided into two equal groups treated with an Er,Cr:YSGG laser at 2780 nm, and a 940 nm diode laser, respectively. The depigmentation procedure essentially involves the ablation of epithelial tissue exhibiting melanin pigmentation. The intensity and extensity indices of gingival pigments were evaluated at baseline, 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years. RESULTS: At all time points following depigmentation treatment, oral pigmentation index (OPI) and melanin pigmentation index (MPI) scores were less significantly (p <0.05) compared to the baseline in both groups. Treatment was significantly faster with Er,Cr:YSGG laser and required no anesthesia, with faster healing and less postoperative discomfort after 1-week of treatment, compared to the diode laser treatment (p <0.001). The re-pigmentation intensity and extensity were higher significantly in the Er,Cr:YSGG group than in the diode group at 1 year and 2 years (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Both lasers efficiently removed gingival pigments with comparable clinical outcomes and overall positive patient experience. Diode laser treatment exhibited better long-term stability of gingival color, with a lower incidence of re-pigmentation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The color of the gingiva plays an important role in the esthetics of oral soft tissues and the overall ideal smile. Laser-assisted gingival depigmentation is an effective, comfortable, and reliable technique with good esthetical outcomes. The rate of re-pigmentation was affected by the laser wavelength and the technique used.
Authors: Fernanda V Ribeiro; Clara P Cavaller; Renato C V Casarin; Márcio Z Casati; Fabiano R Cirano; Maristela Dutra-Corrêa; Suzana P Pimentel Journal: Lasers Med Sci Date: 2013-01-06 Impact factor: 3.161