What is Laser Assisted Dental Cyst Removal or Mouth Lesion Removal?

Laser assisted dental cyst removal / mouth lesion removal is a method employed by dentists to treat mouth lesions precisely. It also reduces the chances for pain and scarring. Some of the lesions that are treated by using this treatment option are:

• Aphthous Ulcers
• Lymphangiomas
• Hemangiomas
• Verrucous Carcinomas

Laser usually consists of a medium (it could be solid, liquid or gas) which when excited by a source of energy releases free-state particles. By increasing the intensity of the energy source, excess energy is emitted as light. This light is then directed by reflecting surfaces.

The laser output can be either continuous or pulsed. Laser Dentistry can use either of these outputs depending on the requirements of the surgical procedure. Laser in pulses can deliver a higher peak power compared to the continuous laser.

When is Laser Mouth Lesion Removal Procedure performed?

Some indications where the Laser-assisted cyst/lesion removal procedure is usually performed are:

• Aphthous ulcers and lichen planus
• Epulides, mucoceles, dysplastic hyperkeratosis and granulomas
• Lymphangioma, hemangioma and telangiectasia
• Lesions like leukoplakia and erythroplakia
• Removal of benign tumours
• Debulking of tumours
• Frenectomies of the lip, tongue or cheek
• Salivary gland diseases
• Soft palate surgery
• Tonsillar surgery

In some cases like Nasopalatine duct cysts, which is caused by spontaneous epithelial growth or trauma-induced growth, like the ones caused by removable Dentures, Dental Implant treatment, bacterial infection or mucus retention.

Laser is usually opted for cases where scarring is not desired as laser wound heals with negligible scars.

What Happens here?

Dentists usually use either the CO2 laser or the Diode laser for this procedure. When laser lights interact with tissue, it causes thermal, chemical or mechanical effects. The thermal effects of laser, which occur at temperatures 60 oC to 65oC, are most commonly used for eliminating lesions in the mouth. It starts off with protein denaturation and visible tissue blanching. Then at 100 oC, the water inside the cells is vaporized leading to vacuole formation, cratering and tissue shrinkage.

The area around a laser-ablated tissue will have the small vessels, nerves and lymphatic channels sealed. This is the reason why there is no bleeding, pain and edema in laser-operated lesions.

Why Is Laser Mouth Lesion Surgery Preferred?

The Laser surgery is preferred over scalpel surgery for the removal of mouth lesions for the following reasons:

• The precision of the procedure is 0.1mm and clean and clear margins are ensured.
• Vaporization of small lesions normally doesn’t yield any tissue specimen for biopsy purposes. However, even high-intensity laser can preserve tissues from small lesions.
• Laser can coagulate vessels that have a diameter between 0.5 and 2mm.
• Post-surgical swelling is greatly reduced.
• Patient will experience negligible pain.
• Scarring is also greatly reduced and wounds usually heal without any complications.
  
  

Authored by DR.NIRANJAN P