title: Selected applications of Er:YAG and CO2 lasers for treatment of benign neoplasms and tumorous lesions in the mouth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Benign neoplasms and hyperplastic tumorous lesions are common oral pathologies. These lesions require to be surgically removed by conventional surgery, laser, or electrosurgery. Surgical treatment aims at complete removal of pathological lesions and ensuring proper healing of the tissues to minimize the risk of lesion recurrence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present possible applications of Er:YAG and CO2 lasers in removal of benign neoplasms and tumorous lesions developing on oral mucosa as well as to specify indications and limitations of these two methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Temperature-induced injuries due to laser light application, possibility of post-operative histopathological evaluation of the removed tissue, efficacy of the cut and coagulation, healing process and completeness of laser surgeries give rise to our special concern.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main asset of the CO2 laser comparing to Er:YAG laser is an effective coagulation while thermal injury to the tissues is its limitation, especially with multiple passage of the beam and too high power applied. Er:YAG laser application does not exclude histopathological examination of the removed lesion tissue which is its advantage over CO2 laser.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Still, insufficient coagulation is a limitation ofits use in the case of richly vascularized lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Head of the Department: Prof. Jerzy Sokalski DDS, PhD.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Błochowiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Head of the Department: Prof. Wiesław Hędzelek DDS, PhD.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andrysiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Head of the Department: Prof. Jerzy Sokalski DDS, PhD.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sidorowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Head of the Department: Prof. Hanna Krauss MD, PhD; Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum, Bydgoszcz, Poland. Head of the Department: Prof. Henryk Witmanowski MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Witmanowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Head of the Department: Prof. Wiesław Hędzelek DDS, PhD.
authors.forename: Wiesław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hędzelek
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Head of the Department: Prof. Jerzy Sokalski DDS, PhD.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sokalski
keywords: CO2 laser; Er:YAG laser; oral benign lesions; oral hyperplastic lesions; surgical laser