title: Comparing the 810nm diode laser with conventional surgery in orthodontic soft tissue procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the use of the 810nm diode laser with conventional surgery in the management of soft tissue mucogingival problems associated with orthodontic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Orthodontic patients requiring different soft tissue surgical procedures were randomly assigned to receive conventional surgery or soft tissue diode laser, (wavelength 810 nm).
  
  
  METHODS
  Parameters documented include the type of anaesthesia used, intra and post operative pain, bleeding, the use of scalpel and sutures. The chi-squared test was used to test for significance at 95% confidence level. Probability values (p-values) less than 0.05 were regarded as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 2(16.7%) of the procedures carried out with the soft tissue laser required infiltration anaesthesia compared to 10 (90.9%) with conventional surgery and this was significant (P<0.001). Post operative pain was significantly reduced in all cases treated with the diode laser (P<0.001). There was also a significant difference (P<0.05) in post operative bleeding in all cases treated with the diode laser. No sutures were used in all soft tissue cases managed with the diode laser and this was significant (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in treatment time in the use of the laser compared with conventional surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orthodontic patients treated with the diode laser required less infiltration anaesthesia, had reduced bleeding during and after surgery, rapid postoperative haemostasis, elimination of the need for sutures and an improved postoperative comfort and healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Ize-Iyamu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Saheeb
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Edetanlen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019214:Gingival Overgrowth / Q000601:surgery; D005890:Gingivectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005893:Gingivoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000601:surgery*; D009970:Orthodontics; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery; D014097:Tooth, Unerupted / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diode laser; Laser therapy; conventional surgery; laser surgery; orthodontics