The effect of CO(2) laser irradiation on oral soft tissue problems in children in Sri Lanka.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of CO(2) laser irradiation on oral tissue problems in pediatric cases in Sri Lanka.


BACKGROUND
The CO(2) laser is now widely used as an effective surgical tool to cut or ablate soft tissues. However, few studies have reported the effectiveness of CO(2) laser for oral tissue problems in developing countries, where patients tend to have high rates of infection.


METHODS
A continuous CO(2) laser (wavelength 10.6 mum; output power 3 or 4 W) was used for the treatment of 76 young patients (aged 1 to 15 years old) indicated mainly for labial or lingual frenectomy, mucocele excision, or other oral pathology.


RESULTS
The CO(2) laser was found to have the following advantages: (1) greatly reduced operating time; (2) simple operative procedure; (3) no postsurgical infection; and (4) decreased or eliminated wound contracture and wound scarring.


CONCLUSIONS
The CO(2) laser proved to be very safe and effective for soft tissue surgery in a developing country.
Kato
Junji
J
Department of Operative Dentistry, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan. jkato@tdc.ac.jp
Wijeyeweera
Rafel Luxhmen
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome