LightScalpel Laser Used to Remove Tissue Hypertrophy

Implant Dentist, Jack Hahn, DDS, of J. A. Hahn Dental Implant Center, performed a gingivectomy using his LightScalpel CO₂ laser to remove excessive tissue. The patient’s excessive tissue was thought to be caused by a poor fitting denture putting excessive pressure on the soft-tissue in the anterior vestibule and also from bone resorption due to a lack of vital teeth to stimulate bone. The resulting hypertrophic tissue, in turn, lessened the stability of the denture. For many patients this can be embarrassing when the denture can easily be dislodged.

To treat the patient, Dr. Hahn removed all of the remaining teeth and used his LightScalpel CO₂ laser to excise the hypertrophic tissue located on the labial aspect of the anterior mandible. He then performed an aggressive alveolectomy, placed 5 Hahn Implants, 7 mm tall healing abutments, sutured the soft-tissue and placed a provisional denture.

Hypertrophic tissue is easily removed with the LightScalpel CO₂ laser. Some benefits of LightScalpel treatment include less post-op swelling and discomfort, reduced scarring (due to decreased activation of myofibroblasts at the wound margin in comparison with a scalpel), diminished risk of infection, shortened procedure time (compared to diodes), and smoother recovery.