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Pulsed laser beam effects on gingiva
Author(s) -
Gold Steven I.,
Vilardi Mario A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1994.tb00735.x
Subject(s) - junctional epithelium , laser , epithelium , connective tissue , materials science , magnification , gingival margin , dentistry , medicine , biomedical engineering , pathology , optics , physics
. The effects of CO2 lasers on human gingiva have been evaluated. Pulsed Nd:YAG lasers have only been available for clinical use in dentistry since 1990. This study evaluated the efficacy of a low‐power pulsed laser in removing pocket lining epithelium in humans with moderate periodontitis. 24 specimens of gingival tissue, from 6 patients, were studied microscopically following the application of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) contact probe with a spotsize of 320 μ. Power settings of 1.25 and 1.75 Watts and a frequency of 20 Hz were used. Treatment time varied from 2 to 3 min. The specimens were fixed and processed in the usual manner. Four representative sections for each tooth were examined with the light microscope at 25 and 100 × magnification. Most sections (83%) exhibited complete removal of epithelium except for traces of viable basal cell remnants at the coronal sulcular margin (17%). The underlying connective tissue demonstrated no evidence of necrosis or carbonization. Morphologic features showed minimal change other than removal of pocket lining epithelium, compared to control sites. The pulsed Nd‐YAG laser can remove pocket lining epithelium in moderately deep pockets at 1.25–1.75 W of power.