title: The Comparative Evaluation of Patient's Satisfaction and Comfort Level by Diode Laser and Scalpel in the Management of Mucogingival Anomalies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical correction of mucogingival anomalies is required to enhance patient's compatibility to maintain oral hygiene or to improve facial aesthetics or both. Laser has become a desirable and dependable alternative for traditional surgical techniques because it is simple and painless with more predictable outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the conventional scalpel technique and the laser technique on the degree of discomfort, satisfaction, healing and postoperative pain experienced by patients after correction of mucogingival anomalies.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study 70 patients were enrolled and randomly distributed in two groups i.e. surgical correction of mucogingival anomalies by scalpel and by laser. Patient's comfort level, pain and satisfaction level was assessed by using Visual analogue scale (VAS) and healing was evaluated by healing index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated patients treated with the diode laser had less postoperative pain and discomfort with remarkable satisfactory results and healing compared to patients treated with the conventional technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser is a desirable therapeutic alternative to correct soft tissue anomalies. It allows good control of haemorrhage with comfortable healing phase and appreciable satisfactory outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Periodontics, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry , Indore, M.P., India .
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Student, Department of Periodontics, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry , Indore, M.P., India .
authors.forename: Garima
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Periodontics, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry , Indore, M.P., India .
authors.forename: Shrikant Vishnu
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Dhodapkar
authors.affiliation: HOD & Principal, Department of Periodontics, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry , Indore, M.P., India .
authors.forename: Kanteshwari Iranagouda
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kumathalli
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Periodontics, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry , Indore, M.P., India .
authors.forename: Gagan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jaiswal
keywords: Healing; Pain; Soft tissue anomalies; Visual analogue scale