The use of the CO 2 laser in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

The CO 2 laser has a decided advantage in removing tumors of the oral cavity. This advantage is related to its ability to perform accurate hemostatic surgery, while at the same time sterilizing the operative area. During the past 4 years, 376 patients have been treated with the CO 2 laser (Sharplan 1040) at our hospital. A variety of benign oral lesions, malignant tumors, vascular tumors, preprosthetic surgery, and other oral lesions have been treated.