by Glenn A. van As, BSc, DMD
Introduction
In 2008, Dr. Gordon Christensen wrote an article in JADA comparing the soft tissue cutting ability of diode lasers versus that
of electrosurgery (radiosurgery) units.¹ In that article, he compared
these two technologies against each other, and cited advantages
and disadvantages of each alternative. In choosing between
the two technologies at that time, he made several points:
- Although, there was considerable overlap in their uses,
and both technologies were effective, Christensen found
there were a few potential uses that did not overlap. These
included the use of diode lasers around metal (amalgam
and gold) as well as implants, that lasers did not harm
dental hard tissues (bone) or soft tissues (pulp), that the
clinician could use the laser with less anesthetic, and
finally that lasers were antimicrobial (antibacterial).
- The use of the laser, especially the diode laser, was increasing
in dentistry, and that lasers attract patients because of
their recognized and accepted role within the field of
medicine (LASIK eye surgery).
- Electrosurgery units were “far less expensive than the least
expensive diode lasers” and he questioned whether “the
advantages of the diode laser significant enough to compensate
for the additional cost.”
Now, less than two years later, a tremendous surge in diode
laser interest has occurred. This is in due in no small part to the
drop in the price range of diode lasers from around the $10,000-
$12,000 in 2008 for the least expensive diode semiconductor
lasers to a price range of $2,500 (see AMD Lasers’ Picasso Lite).
This dramatic price drop of more than 75 percent in the price
of these units, has allowed diode lasers to become less expensive
than some bipolar electrosurgery units and comparable, but still
more expensive than many monopolar electrosurgery units.
These monopolar electrosurgery units can be purchased for
$1,000 or less, but the question as to whether the added benefits
of diode lasers cited by Christensen are now enough to make
them a soft-tissue alternative to these units for the average clinician.
In this article I will review these questions again, and suggest
that for many dental practices a simple diode laser might
replace their electrosurgery unit as the methodology of choice
for soft-tissue laser surgery.
Advantages of Diode Lasers
Over Electrosurgery
As Christensen mentioned in his article, the term “electrosurgery”
is not as well known or as accepted by many patients
as the term “lasers.” Having said this, the acceptance of this
technology in both medicine and dentistry, as a viable method
of soft-tissue alteration has made electrosurgery an accepted
alternative to the scalpel. There are two basic types of electrosurgical
units:
Monopolar, in which a single electrode exists and the
current travels from the unit down a single wire to the surgical
site. The patient is grounded with a pad placed behind
the patients back (a part of the procedure that many patients
may question). Heat is produced when the electrode contacts
the tissue, and due to pain that is produced anesthetic must
be used.
Bipolar, in which two electrodes that are in very close proximity
exist on these units. Bipolar units are more expensive than
diode lasers and the electrical current flows from one electrode
to the other, thus eliminating the need for a grounding pad.
Bipolar units, because of the two wires, create less of a precise
cut than the monopolar or diode laser. Electrosurgical units will
typically cut larger amounts of tissue with greater speed than
diode lasers can, and this can be important if very large amounts
of tissue must be removed. In many cases, with routine dentistry,
soft-tissue ablation is of the minor to moderate amount in
nature, and in this case speed is not an issue.
Tissue Troughing with the Diode Laser
The diode laser has become a popular technology as an alternative
for tissue management compared to the traditional
methodology of placing a single or double retraction cord in the
sulcus. Many CEREC users routinely use the diode laser to
enhance the gingival trough when the margin is either equi-gingival
or subgingival, prior to powdering their prep for their digital
impression. The diode laser can be used in almost all
instances to produce gingival retraction as an alternative to cord
with excellent results both in terms of gingival retraction and
margin delineation for the laboratory. Diodes, like electrosurgical
units, offer the clinician the ability to work in a bloodless
field for the impressions because of the hemostasis that occurs
during the procedure. Unlike electrosurgical units where recession
can be an issue, as can postoperative pain, diode lasers offer
the clinician the ability to precisely remove overhanging,
inflamed tissue while creating a gingival trough that is not likely
to cause damage to bone, cementum, or pulp tissue like electrosurgical
units can.
A small learning curve exists, in knowing when and how
to properly diode laser trough (see clinical case 1 and table 1). Once the learning curve is conquered most clinicians will
almost completely eliminate cord from their practice. In critically
aesthetic areas where thin tissue genotypes exist, or if the
patient is changing the color of the tooth significantly from
the existing stump shade, then care with diode troughing
must be taken.
In the author’s experience, with the introduction of adequate
levels of magnification (Loupes 4.0X or greater or an
operating microscope) and the careful use of lower powers
on the diode laser (for example 0.6-0.9 watts of power in
Continuous Wave), the diode laser tissue management can
be done with confidence in not having gingival recession
occur post-operatively, and often can be done with only topical
anesthetics. This is particularly enticing in situations
where the tooth has had previous endodontic therapy and
tissue troughing can be completed with the use of stronger
topical anesthetics (Cetycaine, Tricaine Blue, TAC 20,
EMLA) and lower settings with the laser. Use of the electrosurgery
unit mandates the need for chemical anesthetic
(injections of local anesthetic) in order to complete the tissue
troughing. In addition, there is research that suggests
that the lateral thermal damage done with lasers is significantly
lower than that with electrosurgery.
Clinical Case 1: Comparing Diode Laser Troughing to Retraction Cord



Fig. 1: Preop of cracked premolars needing full coverage restorations.
Fig. 2: Diode laser being used to “laser trough” around first premolar.
Fig. 3: Retraction cord being placed on second premolar of case.
Fig. 4: Occlusal view of two teeth treated with alternative technologies.
Fig. 5: Low magnification view of impression.
Fig. 6: High magnification view showing differences in impression of gingival
sulcus
with cord (left) and laser (right) but acceptable results
with both methods.
Fig. 7: Occlusal view of healed tissue after provisionals removed after
two weeks.
Fig. 8: LAVA crowns in place on both teeth – occlusal view immediately
post-op.
Fig. 9: LAVA crowns in place on both teeth – labial view immediately
post-op.
The safety of lasers for gingival retraction procedures has
been documented in the literature by Gherlone, et. al.² who
found that lasers (diode and NdYAG) when compared to the
conventional techniques of double cord or electrosurgery
yielded less gingival bleeding, and also less gingival recession.
Their interesting conclusion was that although both techniques
are satisfactory that the laser techniques were in fact “less traumatic
to the periodontal tissues.”
Diode Laser Usage Around Metals
The diode laser has the added benefit of being able to be
used with less concern over damage to hard or soft dental tissues,
or damage to dental prosthesis that can occur with the less
expensive monopolar electrosurgery units.3-6 The diode laser can
be used safely around gold crowns and amalgam restorations
without fear of pulpal damage (Figs. 10-14) and lasers can be
safely used around implants with minimal fear of introducing
iatrogenic damage to the implant or bone, and in new research
there are suggestions that the diode lasers when used at lower
levels of power (Low Level Laser Therapy) may in fact improve
the early healing of tissues and can also be used in cases of periimplantitis
(Figs. 15-20).7-14



Fig. 10: Large buccal amalgam on UR 2nd Molar.
Fig. 11: Amalgam partially removed – gingivectomy needed to remove rest
of amalgam.
Fig. 12: Laser gingivectomy completed without bleeding or fear of sparking.
Fig. 13: Rest of amalgam restorative material removed.
Fig. 14: Restoration completed on labial.
Fig. 15: Flipper partial over top of implant healing cap for right upper
central incisor.
Fig. 16: Healing cap in place after Flipper partial removed.
Fig. 17: Topical on tissue to allow for gingivectomy around implant on
mesial to provide for provisional crown to be seated properly.
Fig. 18: Immediate postoperative view after laser gingivectomy.
Fig. 19: Provisional crown placed.
Fig. 20: Note healing of tissue prior to final PFM crown placement (Three
months healing of provisional crown).
Fig. 21: Final crown in place.
Use of Anesthetic
One of the key benefits of the diode laser over electrosurgery
units is the reduced need for local anesthetics. Some
minor recontouring for aesthetics and for orthodontics can be
accomplished with only topical anesthetic. The literature
shows that lasers can safely be used for both cosmetic and
orthodontics15-18 and there are an increasing number of clinicians
buying lasers for this very fact alone. As I am fond of
saying, “Dentists are fine with needles and drills… it’s the
patients who are seeking alternatives.” Electrosurgery units
and scalpels almost always require the usage of local anesthetic. Figures 22-30 show cases of cosmetic and orthodontics
done with no local anesthetic.
Cosmetic “Smile Lifts”
Lasers have been shown to be effective in cosmetic dentistry
cases.19-22 The lure of the laser is to help with “gummy
smile” cases where an excessive or asymmetrical amount of
tissue appears in a smile. All too often, we as dentists focus on
the “white” parts of the smile and fail to observe gingival
asymmetries (pink part of the smile) which, if corrected,
could significantly improve the overall aesthetic outcome of
the case.
Conventional periodontal surgery consists of full or partial
thickness flaps, and osseous surgery to remove bone, followed
by sutures and 12-16 weeks of healing. There is
nothing wrong with viewing the overall architecture of the
underlying biology of bone, roots and soft tissue, however
there are times when more minimally invasive techniques
may be used with equally impressive results but with perhaps
much less healing time.



Fig. 22: Pre-op view of canines requiring exposure of clinical crown to place
orthodontic bracket.
Fig. 23: Higher magnification of upper right canine.
Fig. 24: Topical gel (compounding pharmacy) applied to labial tissue.
Fig. 25: Diode exposure of clinical crown with 1.2-1.4 w pulsed setting.
Fig. 26: Final view of brackets in place on both upper canines.
Fig. 27: Pre-op view of pigmented lesion on attached tissue noticed by patient.
Fig. 28: Higher magnification view of lesion.
Fig. 29: Immediate postoperative appearance after laser ablation at 1.2w pulsed.
Fig. 30: Ten day healing photo of tissue.
Fig. 31: High magnification view of healing showing complete disappearance of lesion.
One of the causes of “short tooth syndrome” where a lack
of the clinical crown is displayed when smiling is altered passive
eruption. In these cases, the osseous level subgingival
has receded apical to the CEJ. The gingival margins in
Active Passive Eruption (APE) has not moved coronal
enough to the level of the CEJ. This often leaves large
amounts of Keratinized tissue which can be removed via a
diode laser gingivectomy.
In cases where a “gummy smile” exists, the clinical
crowns are short, but the bone is not apical to the CEJ,
(altered active eruption is one cause), then diode laser gingivectomies
will not lead to a stable clinical result. Osseous
surgery either in a full flap scenario or at times with closed
flap laser techniques using both diode and erbium lasers, can
provide tremendous results for the patient with shortened
healing times (Figures 32-37).23-25
Fig. 32: Preoperative smile shows “small tooth syndrome.
Fig. 33: Shows existing 3/4 porcelain crowns on maxilllary incisors.
Fig. 34: Shows Er:YAG closed flap crown lengthening (smile lift) and
provisionals
immediately post-op.
Fig. 35: Shows diode laser tissue management four weeks afterwards prior
to impressions.
Fig. 36: Postoperative result shows longer clinical crowns and optimum
tissue
health.
Fig. 37: Shows close-up of final result.
Anti-bacterial Capabilities of Lasers
Many articles in the literature have demonstrated the
tremendous ability of all lasers with respect to bacterial and even
fungal reduction.26-33 This feature alone makes lasers effective
and desirable in many areas in the oral cavity where the risk of
postoperative infection may be reduced with lasers. Particular
interest is now occurring with the role of lasers in endodontic,
periodontic and peri-implantitis cases where the need to reduce
bacterial loads without such a great deal of reliance on antibiotics
might be exciting. Although more research is needed on
how the bactericidal capabilities of the diode laser might be
beneficial in these areas, there is no debating that all lasers can
help healing through decreasing the risk of infection through
laser light alone (Figs. 38-42). In addition, growing research has
demonstrated that the risk of high bacterial loads in periodontal
pockets and in particular in endodontic situations may be
reduced by lasers. These newer articles have implications for
improving traditional methodologies locally where used, and in
helping to reduce the potential greater systemic health risks generally.
The role of lasers continues to be researched today, but
present research has shown that diode lasers can be used safely
within root canals with minimal fear of developing iatrogenic
complications when conservative settings are used.34-38
Fig. 38: Four canal upper second molar prior to obturation.
Fig. 39: 400 micron diode fiber in DB canal for bacterial reduction.
Fig. 40: Diode laser for bacterial reduction in canal.
Fig. 41: Final view of obturated four canals in second molar.
Fig. 42: Preoperative and postoperative radiographs of above case
Treatment of Oral Lesions
One of the advantages of a diode laser is the ability to treat
oral lesions including: Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers (RAU),
Venous Lake lesions of the lips and Herpetic Lesions (Figs. 43-
49). Research has shown that lasers can be safely used to treat
these lesions,39-41 and in addition it is possible that if caught early
during the prodromal stage that the lesions can be aborted or
significantly reduced in terms of length of time they are present.
42 In addition, it has been the author’s experience that, once
treated with the laser, the lesions are often less likely to reappear
in the same area.
Venous Lake lesions of the lower lip have been traditionally
one of the more difficult lesions to treat. There is a growing
body of evidence to show that a diode laser can often without
anesthetic completely eliminate these purplish lesions which
occur frequently on the lips in one single treatment, often with
only topical anesthetic.14,15, 43, 44
Fig. 43: Pre-op appearance of venous lake on lower right lip.
Fig. 44: High mag preoperative appearance.
Fig. 45: Diode laser coagulating venous lake (note uninitated tip).
Fig. 46: Immediate postoperative appearance of lesion.
Fig. 47: High mag appearance of venous lake immediately postoperative.
Fig. 48: One-week healing of lip-lesion considerably smaller.
Fig. 49: Two-week healing of lip (lesion is now fully disappeared).
Conclusion
In the last two years, diode lasers have become a staple of
many dental practices for their cost effective solution to many
clinical problems that are seen daily in private practice. The laser
as an “electrosurgery replacement” has become a reality with these newer units, which provide numerous advantages to
everyday dentistry.
The advantages of diode laser tissue troughing as a replacement
in many instances for cord, in being safely used around
metals (implants, amalgam, gold, orthodontic brackets), hard
and soft tissue, cannot be overlooked. In many instances small
amounts of tissue can be removed with only topical anesthetics
(Cetycaine, EMLA, Tricaine Blue, and TAC 20) and diode lasers
are great soft-tissue lasers for many orthodontic and cosmetic
procedures as well. If one adds in the antibacterial capabilities of
these lasers and their ability to be used in many soft-tissue surgeries
including frenectomies, fibroma removals, and the treatment
of oral lesions, then it can be seen that perhaps the soft
tissue laser is on its way to being an important and essential part
of not only every dental practice, but perhaps in the not-too-distant
future, an integral part of every dental operatory. |
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