A comparison of diode laser and Er:YAG lasers in the treatment of gingival melanin pigmentation.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the use of diode and Er:YAG lasers in treating gingival melanin pigmentation (GMP) in terms of gingival depigmentation, local anesthesia requirements, postoperative pain/discomfort, depigmentation effectiveness, and total treatment duration.


METHODS
Twenty patients (13 female, 7 male) referred with GMP were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group 1 was treated with a gallium aluminum arsenide diode laser with a continuous wavelength of 808 nm, and group 2 was treated with an Er:YAG laser with a continuous wavelength of 2,940 nm. Gingival depigmentation was performed by applying the laser at 1 W. Treatment was administered on a weekly basis until a normal pink gingival color was observable in clinical examination and photographs. In addition, patients were asked to evaluate the procedure by using a self-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
Procedures were carried out without the need for any topical or local anesthetic, and no unpleasant events occurred during the actual procedure or the healing period. The total length of treatment was significantly shorter with the diode laser (group 1) than with the Er:YAG laser (group 2; P < .05). No melanin recurrence was detected during any follow-up session.


CONCLUSIONS
Diode and Er:YAG lasers administered at 1 W both result in satisfactory depigmentation of GMP.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey. kayamahir@gmail.com
Göksel
G
Simşek Kaya
Günay
G
Yapici Yavuz
Muhammed A
MA
Sümbüllü
Ertunç
E
Dayi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult