title: Clinical and surgical management of odontoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Odontomas are hamartomatous developmental malformations of the dental tissues. We present a retrospective study of recent clinical experience using erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) (wavelength 2940 nm) and chromium-doped yttrium scandium gallium garnet lasers (Er,Cr:YSSG) (wavelength 2780 nm) for the surgical treatment of these lesions, and score postsurgical pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study comprised 35 odontomas treated at the Department of Oral Pathology and Laser-Assisted Surgery, San Martino Hospital, University of Genoa, Italy. Of 35 Caucasian patients (23 male, 12 female; ages 8-35; odontomas localized at various oral subsites) those in Group 1 (n=25) had odontomas excised by laser (Er:YAG laser operating at 2940 nm, pulse width 100 msec, curved handpiece, truncated cone HPX tip, 400 μm with energy output 250-400 mJ per pulse, frequency 15 Hz; and Er, Cr: YSGG laser, power 3.5 W, frequency 20 Hz, 55% air/45% water spray, H (hard tissue) mode, pulse width 190-750 μsec variable). In Group 2 (n=10) odontomas were excised by conventional surgery. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Clinical outcome was determined at 6-12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete responses were achieved in 100% of the laser-treated odontomas, which compares favorably with reported results of conventional surgery. A statistically significant difference in VAS score was found between patients treated with traditional scalpel surgery (median=4.00) and those who underwent laser surgery (median=3.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In treating odontomas, a laser surgery protocol effectively minimizes pain, maintains an excellent clinical outcome, and requires minimal additional treatment time compared with conventional surgery.
authors.affiliation: University of Genoa , Department of Surgical Medical Sciences and Diagnostic Integrated, Ospedale San Martino, Genova, Italy .
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angiero
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benedicenti
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Signore
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sorrenti
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giacometti
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crippa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D009810:Odontoma / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult