Manifestation of the advantages and disadvantages of using the CO2 laser in oral surgery.

In their patient population, the authors summarize experience with 548 laser operations of oral lesions, the manifestation of the advantages and disadvantages of this technique. The hemostatic effect of the laser is of special significance, which became evident in the surgery of 90 hemangiomas, 17 patients with naveus flammeus, and 14 with clotting disturbance. For protection of the healthy tissues, various laser surgical methods were used--coagulation, vaporization, excision--and the postoperative edema, pain, inflammation, wound healing disturbances, and scarring were minimal. By the use of this method, the oral cavity functions can be well maintained. Following one laser treatment, the relapse rate was lower than 8 percent, after two treatments 1.1 percent. The laser treatment is economically favorable, since the absence of patients from work is minimal. Methods have been elaborated to overcome the disadvantages of laser treatment. It is established that the following can be favorably treated with the CO2 laser: leukoplakia, hemangioma, epulis, granuloma fissuratum, naveus flammeus, and clotting disturbance. The advantages of CO2 laser treatment in oral surgery manifest themselves very markedly.