Laser gingivectomy

Laser gingivectomy is a dental procedure that recontours the gingival tissue to improve long term dental health, aesthetics or uncover impacted/unerupted teeth. ^{[1] [2]} Compared to conventional scalpel surgery, soft-tissue dental lasers, such as laser diode, ^[3] Nd:YAG laser, ^[4] Er:YAG laser, ^[5] Er,Cr:YSGG laser, ^[6] and CO₂ lasers, ^{[7] [8]} can perform this procedure, offering a precise, stable, bloodless, often less painful, and accelerated healing experience. ^{[9] [10] [11]} However, the laser diode gained more popularity due to its versatility, less interaction with hard tissue, ease of use, and the less expensive set up. ^[12]

Medical uses

• Where a patient presents with an unsightly gummy smile due to too much gingival coverage of tooth crown, especially the upper front incisors
• Where there is overgrowth of the gum due to oral hygiene issues, drug usage, or hereditary medical condition. Sometimes overgrowth of the gum can be seen during orthodontic treatment with fixed braces. ^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}
• Surgical exposure of teeth with delayed eruption or superficially impacted teeth to facilitate orthodontic treatment and tooth eruption ^[12]

References

1. Hempton, TJ, Dominici, JT (2010). "Contemporary crown-lengthening therapy: a review". J Am Dent Assoc. 141 (6): 647–55. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.2010.0252 . PMID   20516094.
2. Borzabadi-Farahani, A. (2025). "Diode Laser Applications for Muco-Gingival Surgical Orthodontics; A Case Series". Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery. doi: 10.1007/s12663-025-02599-w .
3. Borzabadi-Farahani, A. (2022). "A Scoping Review of the Efficacy of Diode Lasers Used for Minimally Invasive Exposure of Impacted Teeth or Teeth with Delayed Eruption". Photonics. 9 (4): 265. Bibcode:2022Photo...9..265B. doi: 10.3390/photonics9040265 .
4. Kilinc E, Rothrock J, Migliorati E, Drukteinis S, Roshkind DM, Bradley P (2012). "Potential surface alteration effects of laser-assisted periodontal surgery on existing dental restorations". Quintessence Int. 43 (5): 387–395. PMID   22536590.
5. Arnabat-Domínguez J, España-Tost AJ, Berini-Aytés L, Gay-Escoda C (2003). "Erbium:YAG laser application in the second phase of implant surgery: a pilot study in 20 patients". Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 18 (1): 104–112. PMID   12608675.
6. Jetter C. (2008). "Soft-tissue management using an Er,Cr:YSGG laser during restorative procedures". Compend Contin Educ Dent. 29 (1): 46–49. PMID   18361340.
7. Pick, Robert M.; Pecaro, Bernard C.; Silberman, Charles J. (1985-08-01). "The Laser Gingivectomy: The Use of the CO2 Laser for the Removal of Phenytoin Hyperplasia". Journal of Periodontology. 56 (8): 492–496. doi:10.1902/jop.1985.56.8.492. ISSN   0022-3492. PMID   3938990.
8. Gama, Sabrina Kívia Correia; Habib, Fernando Antônio Lima; Pinheiro, Antônio Luiz Barbosa; Araújo, Telma Martins de (April 2012). "Effectiveness of CO2 laser in removal of papillary gingival hyperplasia". Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics. 17 (2): 33.e1–33.e6. doi: 10.1590/S2176-94512012000200006 . ISSN   2176-9451.
9. Aoki A, Mizutani K, Schwarz F, Sculean A, Yukna RA, Takasaki AA, Romanos GE, Taniguchi Y, Sasaki KM, Zeredo JL, Koshy G, Coluzzi DJ, White JM, Abiko Y, Ishikawa I, Izumi Y (2015). "Periodontal and peri-implant wound healing following laser therapy". Periodontol 2000. 68 (1): 217–269. doi:10.1111/prd.12080. PMID   25867988.
10. "Combined treatment approach of gingivectomy and CO2 laser for cyclosporine-induced gingival overgrowth". www.quintpub.com. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
11. Convissar, Robert A. (2015-03-06). Principles and Practice of Laser Dentistry - E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN   9780323297639.
12. Borzabadi-Farahani, A. (2017). "The Adjunctive Soft-Tissue Diode Laser in Orthodontics". Compend Contin Educ Dent. 38 (eBook 5): e18 –e31. PMID   28509563.
13. Coletta, RD, Graner, E. (2007). "Hereditary gingival fibromatosis: A systematic review". J. Periodontol. 77 (5): 753–64. doi:10.1902/jop.2006.050379. PMID   16671866.
14. Borzabadi-Farahani, A; Cronshaw, M (2017). "Lasers in Orthodontics". In Coluzzi, D; Parker, S (eds.). Lasers in Dentistry—Current Concepts. Textbooks in Contemporary Dentistry. Springer, Cham. pp. 247–271. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-51944-9_12. ISBN   978-3-319-51943-2.
15. Borzabadi-Farahani, A (2024). "Laser Use in Muco-Gingival Surgical Orthodontics". In Coluzzi, D.J.; Parker, S.P.A. (eds.). Lasers in Dentistry—Current Concepts. Textbooks in Contemporary Dentistry (2nd ed.). Springer, Cham. pp. 379–398. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-43338-2. ISBN   978-3-031-43338-2.