Utilization of Carbon Dioxide Laser Therapy in the Management of Denture-Induced Hyperplasia and Vestibuloplasty in a Medically Compromised Patient: A Case Report

A Novel Therapeutic Approach of 980 nm Photobiomodulation Delivered with Flattop Beam Profile in Management of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis in Paediatrics and Adolescents-A Case Series with 3-Month Follow-Up

Background/Objectives: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is one of the most common oral mucosal lesions and a very debilitating lesion, especially in paediatric and adolescent patients. The current pharmacotherapy offers a pain relief but not without side effects, and therefore photobiomodulation (PBM) can be an alternative therapy. To the authors' best knowledge, no published study has explored the efficacy of λ 980 nm laser PBM in the management of all RAS subtypes in paediatric and adolescent patients, and therefore, this prospective observational clinical study was conducted to bridge this gap by evaluating λ 980 nm laser PBM efficacy in symptomatic RAS management in paediatric and adolescent patients. The objectives were to evaluate (1) pain intensity alleviation; (2) wound healing rate; (3) wound size closure; (4) a complete resolution; (5) evidence of recurrence; and (6) patients' treatment satisfaction. Methods: The study's variables were assessed at the following timepoints: T0: pre-treatment; T1: immediately after first PBM session; T2: 5 hours (h) post first PBM session (via telephone call); T3: immediately after second PBM session (three days post first PBM session); T4: three-day follow-up (after complete PBM treatments); T5: two-week follow-up; and T6: three-month follow-up. The following PBM dosimetry and treatment protocols were employed: λ 980 nm; 300 mW; 60 s; 18 J; CW; flattop beam profile of 1 cm2 spot size; 18 J/cm2; and twice-a-week irradiation (72 h interval). Results: At T1, significant immediate pain intensity relief was reported. 33.33% recorded "4" and 66.67% reported "5" on the quantitative numeric pain intensity scale (NPIS), and this continued to improve significantly (83.33%) at T2. All the subjects reported "0" on the NPIS at T3, T4, T5 and T6. There was a significant reduction in the lesion surface area (>50% complete healing) at T3 compared to T0. Complete healing (100%) with no evidence of scarring and lesion recurrence observed at T4, T5 and T6. Very good patients' satisfaction was reported at all timepoints. Conclusions: This is the first report demonstrating λ980 nm efficacy in all RAS subtype management in paediatric and adolescent patients with a 3-month follow-up, whereby its PBM dosimetry and treatment protocols were effective from scientific and practical standpoints, and hence multicentre RCTs with large data are warranted to validate its reproducibility and to enrich the knowledge of PBM application in all RAS subtypes.

10,600 nm High Level-Laser Therapy Dosimetry in Management of Unresponsive Persistent Peripheral Giant Cell Granuloma to Standard Surgical Approach: A Case Report with 6-Month Follow-Up

Peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) is a non-neoplastic, tumour-like reactive lesion that exclusively involves the gingiva and/or the alveolar crest. The surgical approach with a scalpel has been the golden standard of treatment for PGCG, but the scientific literature reports a high rate of lesion recurrence. Hence, this unique case report aimed to evaluate the efficacy of λ 10,600 nm high-level laser therapy (HLLT) in eradicating persistent, aggressive, and recurrent PGCG that failed to respond to standard surgical treatment. A fit and healthy thirty-four-year-old Caucasian male presented with a two-month history of recurrent episodes of an oral mucosal lesion involving the buccal and lingual interdental papillae between the lower right second premolar (LR5) and lower right first molar (LR6), which was surgically excised with a scalpel three times previously. A λ 10,600 nm-induced HLLT was chosen as a treatment modality at a lower peak power of 1.62 W, measured with a power metre, emitted in gated emission mode (50% duty cycle), whereby the average output power reaching the target tissue was 0.81 W. The spot size was 0.8 mm. Ninety seconds was the total treatment duration, and the total energy density was 7934.78 J/cm2. Patient self-reporting outcomes revealed minimal to no post-operative complications. Initial healing was observed on the 4th day of the post-laser treatment, and a complete healing occurred at two-weeks post-operatively. The histological analysis revealed PGCG. This unique case report study demonstrated the efficacy of λ 10,600 nm-induced HLLT and its superiority to eradicate persistent aggressive PGCG over the standard surgical approach with minimal to no post-operative complications, accelerating wound healing beyond the physiological healing time associated with no evidence of PGCG recurrence at the six-month follow-up timepoint. Based on the significant findings of this unique study and the results of our previous clinical studies, we can confirm the validity and effectiveness of our standardised λ 10,600 nm laser dosimetry-induced HLLT and treatment protocol in achieving optimal outcomes. Randomised controlled clinical trials with large data comparing λ 10,600 nm with our dosimetry protocol to the standard surgical treatment modality at long follow-up timepoints are warranted.

A Novel Concept of Combined High-Level-Laser Treatment and Transcutaneous Photobiomodulation Therapy Utilisation in Orthodontic Periodontal Interface Management

This case report is aimed to demonstrate the synergetic effects of λ940 nm laser photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy in augmenting the advantages of high-level-laser treatment (HLLT)-mediated reaction orthodontic periodontal interface management. Materials and Methods: A 32-year-old female who presented with a persistent gummy smile of upper incisors and low upper midline frenum attachment post-orthodontic treatment, was seeking a better smile appearance. She had a history of delayed wound healing without underlying medical conditions; otherwise, she was fit and healthy. She underwent laser ablation of the upper midline frenum and gingivoplasty of the upper incisors region with λ940 nm and λ2780, respectively, as well as transcutaneous PBM therapy (λ940 nm) to accelerate wound healing. The laser protocols were as follows: λ2780 nm: power output—2 W, pulse width—60 μs, free running pulse (FRP), spot area—0.0016 cm², pulse repetition rate—25 pulses per second (s), 80 mJ/pulse, 90 s, λ940 nm: 1.2 W, continuous wave (CW) emission mode, 300 μm, 60 s; whereas the adjunctive λ940 nm induced-PBM parameters were as follows: power output—1.4 W, CW—120 s, single application, spot area—2.8 cm². An acceleration of the wound healing was observed on the 4th day of treatment with no immediate or post-operative complications. The results showed no functional or aesthetic relapses at a long-term follow-up of 6 months. The authors concluded that λ940 nm laser-PBM can provide a synergetic effect to HLLT in accelerating wound healing and offering a precision smile with minimal to none post-operative complications. It is safe and justifiable to utilise dual therapy over the conventional methods, which serves our patients’ needs in our daily practice and in various clinical indications. The concept and laser protocols of this clinical case report can pave the roadmap for future extensive studies.

Laser Vestibuloplasty for Peri-implant Gingiva Implementation in the Atrophic Mandible of a Medically Compromised Patient

Despite the good clinical outcomes of the conventional technique of vestibulopasty performed with a scalpel, patients frequently perceive pain and discomfort after surgery. Diode laser use in oral surgery is, instead, well tolerated as it is mini-invasive and with a very low occurrence of post-surgical complications. In addition, the lack of bleeding during surgery and the reduced/absent post-surgical edema makes diode laser surgery the most suitable for medically compromised patients. We report a case of vestibuloplasty performed by diode laser in a patient on therapy with warfarin and without drug discontinuation.