The clinical application of a new developed fiber guided CO₂ laser in soft tissue surgery will be demonstrated (wavelength 10.6 micrometers , pulse duration 5 ms up to cw, pulse repetition rate 1-99 Hz, maximum average power at the outlet of the handpiece 9.4 watts, focus diameter 0.3 mm, two confocal pilot laser beams; ASAH medico, Hvidovre, Denmark). In this study laser parameters were set to a pulse duration of 5 up to 20 ms and a maximum repetition rate of 20 Hz. Leukoplakia removal was done with a defocused beam, while for excisions and incisions the laser was used in focus. Excisions of fibromas, lipomas etc. were performed. Especially for gingiva extensions employing free gingival grafts this new laser device was engaged. After two weeks of wound healing all gingival graft procedures were successfully complete. Healing process following large vestibuloplasty procedures concerning a total jaw lasted as long as known from conventional techniques. For the daily clinical use in soft tissue surgery this fiber guided CO₂ laser system appears to be a versatile and reliable tool.

Date Published: 15 May 1997
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 2973, Lasers in Dentistry III, (15 May 1997); doi: 10.1117/12.273590

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2973:
Lasers in Dentistry III
Harvey A. Wigdor D.D.S.; John D. B. Featherstone; Peter Rechmann D.D.S., Editor(s)