An Audit of the Use of the CO_2 Laser in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

摘要

The use of the Carbon dioxide Laser to perform surgical procedures in the oral cavity has been described as a successful method for the treatment of several conditions affecting the maxillofacial region. Several benefits of the use of the CO_2 Laser have been reported and includes reduction of postoperative pain and edema, local hemosthasis, reduction of scaring and wound contraction and infection. The aim of this work is to present our clinical experience in performing several surgical procedures using the CO_2 Laser to treat soft tissue pathologies of both benign and malign origin as well as on performing pre-prosthetic surgery, apical surgery and on the treatment of pre-malignancies. Our experience demonstrate that the use of the Carbon dioxide Laser in treating oral soft-tissue pathology presents advantages over conventional techniques and local discomfort and pain are the most common complaints after Laser surgery. The Carbon dioxide Laser does not offer any enhanced cure-rate for oral pathology, but rather it is a precise means of removing soft tissue lesions with little upset afterwards.