A Comparison Between the Efficacy of Scalpel and Laser Procedures for Treating Gingival Hyperpigmentation: A Case Report

Abstract

Gingival hyperpigmentation is a hereditary feature in populations. Gingival pigmentation not only affects aesthetics but also has a negative psychological effect. For many people, gingival hyperpigmentation is a severe cosmetic problem. Although black gums are not a medical issue, many individuals find them unsightly. The pigmentation of gingiva contributes to the harmony of the smile in a significant way. A periodontal plastic surgery procedure called gingival depigmentation eliminates or reduces hyperpigmentation. Different treatment approaches for gingival depigmentation have been documented, such as scalpel, electrosurgery, diamond burs, chemical methods, cryosurgery, and lasers. According to studies, cryosurgery and lasers are the best procedures since they provide better aesthetic outcomes and low recurrence rates. The coordination of treatment plans and the choice technique are influenced by the patient's skin tone, the degree of gingival pigmentation, the lip line, the upper lip curvature, aesthetic concern, and treatment expectations. This case report, which involves a 23-year-old female patient, provides a comparison between the efficacy of scalpel and laser procedures for treating gingival hyperpigmentation. The patient's left side received diode laser treatment, while the right received scalpel treatment. Scalpel depigmentation caused the treated area to recover without incident. The benefits of laser depigmentation include a bloodless surgical field and recovery without complications. No postoperative pain, bleeding, infection, or scars were seen on the first and consequent visits. The recovery went smoothly. The patient was satisfied with the treatment modality, and the outcomes were outstanding, according to the patient. There was no re-pigmentation throughout the follow-up period. This split-mouth study will provide information regarding soft tissue healing using two different approaches in the same patient.

Ceramic Soft Tissue Trimming Bur Gingival Depigmentation: Clinical Performance and Patient Experience. “A Split Mouth Randomized Controlled Trial”

“…The study was conducted in a split-mouth fashion (13,14). This design was selected to evade the intersubject variables such as age, facial complexion, genetics, and environmental risk factors.…”

Laser-Assisted Gingival Depigmentation: A Case Report

“…The authors came to the conclusion that both strategies had comparable healing outcomes and that there was no recurrence with any of the therapies they looked at. While the charred layer functioned as a dressing to control the bleeding, the scalpel procedure left a bleeding region that needed to be inspected post-surgery [ 12 ].…”

Pediatric Oral Mucocele Management: A Case Series Investigating Different Treatment Approaches

“…While numerous case series have compared scalpel and laser techniques for mucocele removal [ 21 , 22 ], this study stands out as the first of its kind to comprehensively compare all three commonly used procedures for this purpose. When compared to surgical and electrosurgical excision, the laser resection in this case series showed less postoperative discomfort and better clinical healing.…”

“…Moreover, it is necessary to implement educational programs to raise awareness among parents and kids about the need to stop lip-biting behavior. If a child's long-standing innate fear is the reason behind the habit's persistence, it is imperative to look into the underlying causes and seek professional psychological help [ 22 , 23 ].…”