Scalpel Versus Laser Gingivectomy in Orthodontic Patients in the Management of Periodontal Health

Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances usually develop gingival enlargement (GE). Its development is usually attribute to chronic inflammation, and may cause both esthetic and functional problems for the patient. In many cases, the gingival hyperplasia demands periodontal surgery in order to increase the length of the crown during or after the orthodontic treatment. Previously conventional surgical procedures were performed using a scalpel under local anaesthesia for these procedures. Lately the use of laser has been proposed. The majority of the studies comparing laser gingivectomy with scalpel gingivectomy show some limits: they are not randomized, they are not prospective, and they have no control group. The primary objective of the present investigation was to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of diode laser gingivectomy versus scalpel gingivectomy in the management of periodontal health among patients receiving fixed orthodontic appliance therapy, compared with a non surgical control group.