title: Postoperative discomfort after Nd:YAG laser and conventional frenectomy: comparison of both genders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence has suggested that males and females experience and report feeling pain differently. The aim of this study was to determine the postoperative perception levels of both females and males after neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser frenectomy and conventional frenectomy, and to compare the perceptions between genders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine patients requiring frenectomy were randomly assigned to have treatment with either the conventional frenectomy or with the Nd:YAG laser. Postoperative discomfort (pain, chewing, talking) was recorded using a visual analog scale (VAS) on the operation day and postoperative days 1, 3, 7 and 10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the female VAS scores of the pain, chewing and speaking discomfort were statistically higher in the conventional group than those of the laser group on the operation day, and on the first and third postoperative days. Pain discomfort in males was statistically higher in the conventional group than those of the laser group on the operation day. Speaking discomfort in males was statistically higher in the conventional group than those of the laser group on the operation day and the first postoperative day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicated that Nd:YAG laser treatment used for frenectomies provides better postoperative comfort for each gender, especially in females in terms of pain, chewing and speaking than the conventional procedure up to the seventh postoperative day. According to our results, Nd:YAG laser may provide a safe, bloodless, painless surgery and an impressive alternative for frenectomy operations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akpınar
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toker
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lektemur Alpan
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Adiyaman University, Adiyaman, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Çalışır
keywords: 
  VAS
  ; Frenectomy; Nd:YAG laser; gender; pain