title: Minimally Invasive Excision of Epulides with a CO2Laser: A Retrospective Study of 90 Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is the aim of this study to evaluate if the CO2laser can beneficially be applied for excising epulides.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The standard procedure for treating epulides involves the excision of the hyperplastic tissue followed in most cases by the removal of parts of the underlying bone and the final closure of the wound by a flap. The use of the CO2laser for the treatment of epulides has been documented only in isolated case reports and very few case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients with different subtypes of epulides were treated with a CO2laser (Lasram, model OPAL 25, 25 W, 10.600 nm, gas laser); power setting 4 W, continuous wave. The surgery was performed only after a pretreatment could remedy any gingivitis or occlusal trauma. A new surgical way of working using a special applicator that allowed tangential application of the laser beam was applied for all patients. Patients were followed up to 3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No perioperative complications or recurrences after 4 weeks could be found. Six patients were lost to further follow-up, whereas 84 patients were followed up to 36 months. In 71 cases there were no recurrences over the entire observation period. Thirteen patients developed a relapse, usually a fibroma/fibrosis according to histopathological evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall CO2laser seems to be an adequate tool for minimally invasive excision of epulides, although the respective histopathological entity could possibly influence the recurrence rate and so should be considered.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Oral Surgery and Orthodontics, Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Health, Medical University of Graz , Graz, Austria .
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Truschnegg
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Oral Surgery and Orthodontics, Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Health, Medical University of Graz , Graz, Austria .
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acham
authors.affiliation: 2 Division of Prosthodontics, Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology and Implantology, Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Health, Medical University Graz , Graz, Austria .
authors.forename: Lumnije
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kqiku
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Oral Surgery and Orthodontics, Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Health, Medical University of Graz , Graz, Austria .
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jakse
authors.affiliation: 3 IMAH, Institute of Morphological Analytics and Human Genetics , Graz, Austria .
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CO2 laser; epulis; minimal invasive surgery