Gingival melanin depigmentation by Er:YAG laser: A literature review |
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| Authors: | Verica Pavlic Zlata Brkic Sasa Marin Smiljka Cicmil Mirjana Gojkov-Vukelic Akira Aoki |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina;2. Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina;3. Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Militar Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia;4. Department of Oral Surgery, Medical Faculty, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina;5. Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of East Sarajevo, Foca, Bosnia and Herzegovina;6. Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina;7. Section of Periodontology, Department of Hard Tissue Engineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Laser ablation is recently suggested as a most effective and reliable technique for depigmentation of melanin hyperpigmented gingiva. To date, different lasers have been used for gingival depigmentation (CO2, diode, Nd:YAG, Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG lasers). The use of Er:YAG laser for depigmentation of melanin hyperpigmented gingiva has gained increasing importance in recent years. The purpose of this study was to report removal of gingival melanin pigmentation using an Er:YAG laser in a literature review. The main outcomes, such as improvement of signs (clinical parameters of bleeding, erythema, swelling and wound healing), symptoms (pain) and melanin recurrence/repigmentation were measured. The literature demonstrated that depigmentation of gingival melanin pigmentation can be performed safely and effectively by Er:YAG laser resulting in healing and an esthetically significant improvement of gingival discoloration. Thus, Er:YAG laser seems to be safe and useful in melanin depigmentation procedure. However, the main issue in giving the final conclusion of the optimal Er:YAG laser use in melanin depigmentation is that, to date, studies are offering completely discrepant Er:YAG laser procedure protocols (complex settings of laser parameters), and different criteria for the assessment of depigmentation and repigmentation (recurrence), thus hampering the comparison of the results. Therefore, further studies are necessary to give an optimal recommendation on the use of Er:YAG laser in gingival melanin hyperpigmentation. |
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| Keywords: | Melanin hyperpigmentation melanin depigmentation Er:YAG laser melanin depigmentation |
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