title: The use of soft tissue diode laser in the treatment of oral hyper pigmentation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and patients' acceptance of soft tissue diode laser, for the elimination of hyper pigmented areas of the gingivae and buccal mucosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients complaining of dark localized areas in their gingivae of upper and lower jaws, or in cheek mucosa were included in this study. All are females ages ranged from 18-37 with average of 27.5 years. The patients were all not pregnant, and free from any systemic diseases, and had no other areas of hyperpigmentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the patients (18 Pts.) required two treatment sessions to remove the melanotic lesions satisfactorily. The patients were seen after one, two, and three weeks respectively. Eight patients (40%) had a good response after one week, Ten patients (50%) had a very good response after two weeks, while only two patients (10%) had a bad result and required a third treatment session after two weeks. At the third week postoperatively in the successful cases, restoration of the normal gingival and mucosal texture and color was achieved with optimal esthetic results. Most of the patients had no postoperative discomfort including: pain, edema and disfigurement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The soft tissue diode laser can be considered as a reliable mean for elimination of melanotic lesions of the gingivae or buccal mucosa, and is well tolerated by the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and maxillofacial Surgery& Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Taif University.
authors.forename: Mahitab M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Taif University.
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al Thomali
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Taif University.
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Shammrani
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery & Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Qassim University.
authors.forename: Hanaa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El Gazaerly
keywords: hyperpigmentation; patient response; soft tissue diode laser