Journal of Dental Lasers

CASE REPORTS
Year
: 2019  |  Volume : 13  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 19--22

Diode laser frenectomy: A case report with review of literature


Preeti Patil1, Karthik J Kabbur2, Hemanth Madaiah2, Sunil Satyanarayana3,  
1 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2 Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
3 Periodontics, Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Preeti Patil
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka
India

Abstract

Abnormal/aberrant frenum is very common and causes various problems in function and aesthetics. It is managed by procedures such as frenotomy and frenectomy. Lasers are currently becoming popular in various fields of dentistry and provide alternative to conventional scalpel procedures. In recent years, lasers such as CO2, Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet, Erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet, and diode have been used for frenectomy. In this paper, we present a case of diode laser frenectomy and review various studies and reports conducted on diode laser frenectomy.



How to cite this article:
Patil P, Kabbur KJ, Madaiah H, Satyanarayana S. Diode laser frenectomy: A case report with review of literature.J Dent Lasers 2019;13:19-22


How to cite this URL:
Patil P, Kabbur KJ, Madaiah H, Satyanarayana S. Diode laser frenectomy: A case report with review of literature. J Dent Lasers [serial online] 2019 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];13:19-22
Available from: http://www.jdentlasers.org/text.asp?2019/13/1/19/263341


Full Text



 Introduction



Frenum is a fold of mucous membrane, usually with enclosed muscle fibers that attaches the lips and cheeks to the alveolar mucosa and/or gingiva and underlying periosteum.[1] Placek et al.[2] have classified frenum depending on the extension of attachment of fibers, (1) Mucosal: when the frenal fibers are attached up to mucogingival junction, (2) Gingival: when fibers are inserted within attached gingiva, (3) Papillary: when fibers are extending into interdental papilla, and (4) Papilla penetrating: when the frenal fibers cross the alveolar process and extend up to palatine papilla.

According to Miller,[3] the frenum should be characterized as pathogenic when it is unusually wide or there is no apparent zone of attached gingiva along the midline or the interdental papilla shifts when the frenum is extended. These pathogenic frenums can lead to midline diastema, gingival recession, interference with retention of denture, and compromised gingival health because of poor plaque control. The management of such abnormal frenum includes frenectomy or frenotomy. In this paper, we present a case of diode laser frenectomy and review various studies and reports conducted on diode laser frenectomy.

 Case Report



A 20-year-old female patient undergoing orthodontic treatment for spacing in the maxillary anterior teeth was referred for the evaluation of maxillary labial frenum. On intraoral examination, midline diastema and high frenal attachment were observed. Also the labial frenum was thick and wide [Figure 1]. The patient was advised frenectomy. After detailed explanation of procedure, written consent was obtained from the patient.{Figure 1}

Procedure and laser parameters: Frenectomy was performed using diode laser of 980nm. The labial frenum was sprayed with topical spray and infiltration anesthesia was given to the frenum. The laser was activated before performing the procedure. Surgical tip at 400 µm was used with a power of 1.37 W and was applied in contact mode. The incision was started with the frenum from the attached gingiva and interdental papilla on the labial surface between the central incisors extending upward from inner side of upper lip to the depth of vestibule ending in a rhomboidal area causing separation of the fibers. Hemostasis was optimal and no sutures were given [Figure 2]. Safety measures were taken for the dentist, assistance, and the patient by wearing the protective goggles.{Figure 2}

The patient was given verbal instructions to avoid taking hot and spicy food for a few days and to maintain meticulous oral hygiene. Postoperative analgesics were given to the patient. After 2 weeks of follow-up, significant healing was noted and after 1 month, complete healing of the surgical site with normal mucosal type of frenal attachment was reported [Figure 3].{Figure 3}

 Discussion



Lasers are becoming increasingly popular in the field of dentistry providing alternative to conventional scalpel procedures. In recent years, lasers such as Nd:Yag, Er, diode, and diode in conjunction with Er:Yag have been used for frenectomy.

The diode laser was introduced in the mid-90s.[4] The diode laser contains a solid active medium and is composed of semiconductor crystals of aluminum or iridium, gallium, and arsenic.[5] Wavelengths of diode laser range from 810 to 1064nm. They are used in soft tissue surgeries as their wavelength approximates the absorption coefficient of pigmented tissue containing hemoglobin, collagen, melanin, and chromophores.

Diode lasers are becoming popular over conventional techniques because they are less invasive, which result in reduced postoperative edema. The sealing of nerve endings result in reduced inflammatory response and the formation of a protein layer over the surgical wound protects the wound from external irritation, causing less post operative pain and avoiding the use of analgesic drugs.[6] Photothermal interaction with tissue is the basic concept of surgical laser. In this process, radiant light is absorbed by the tissue and transformed to heat energy changing tissue structure. Laser light within was converted to thermal energy on contact with the tissue, causing laser tissue interaction, which when appropriately applied can produce reactions ranging from the incision, vaporization, to coagulation.[7]

For routine clinical dental treatments, pain control is quite important for patient’s physical and mental well-being as well as for the effectiveness of therapy.[8]

The laser has a coagulation effect on small vessels, which provides hemostasis and seals the sensory nerve endings, providing reduced need for anesthesia.[9]

In this case, we reported 980-nm wavelength diode laser frenectomy with no complications and excellent patient satisfaction. We used infiltration anesthesia and local anesthesia spray for the procedure. Most of the studies conducted on laser frenectomy have been performed using topical spray with or without infiltration anesthesia. However, in the study conducted by Aldelaimi and Mahmood,[10] the frenectomy was performed under sedative analgesia using midazolam and topical spray.

In the present case, the patient had no intraoperative complication such as pain, swelling, or bleeding, which is in accordance to many studies and reports.[10],[11],[12],[13] Aldelaimi and Mahmood[10] reported that of 25 patients only two experienced mild pain during first 3 days postoperatively and were given analgesics. Awooda et al.[11] in their study reported that among eight patients, one patient experienced pain and another patient had pain and swelling after the first day. However, after 1-week follow-up, good healing was reported.[14]

Patel et al.,[12] in their study, reported that the subjects treated with the diode laser had significantly less postoperative pain both on day 1 and day 7 as compared to scalpel surgery, as well as the number of analgesics used was lower in the laser group. Though the healing of laser wounds after the 7th day and 1 month was found to be delayed as compared to scalpel wound, after 3 months, no significant difference was found in healing between scalpel and laser group.[15]

In this study, near-complete healing was seen in 2 weeks and complete healing with no scar was seen after 1-month follow-up. The review of various studies conducted on diode laser frenectomy is summarized in [Table 1].{Table 1}

 Conclusion



The rapid developments in laser technology and better understanding of bio-interactions of different laser systems have expanded the use of laser in dentistry. They provide an excellent alternative to conventional scalpel surgery because of patient comfort, bloodless field, and reduced pain and healing time. Owing to the small size, low cost, fiber optic delivery, and ease of use for minor surgery of oral soft tissue, diode laser has become an excellent choice for frenectomy.[21]

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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