Comparison of Diode Laser-Assisted Vestibuloplasty And Conventional Vestibuloplasty

52 systemically healthy patients aged between 18 and 53 years (10 males and 42 females) with inadequate vestibular depth and insufficient attached gingiva in the anterior mandible were included in this randomized examiner- and patient-blinded, parallel design study. Following nonsurgical periodontal treatment, patients were divided into 4 groups as follows: a) diode laser (L); b) diode laser+Low level laser therapy (LLLT); c) conventional surgery and conventional surgery+LLLT, and vestibule deepening was applied to all subjects either with scalpel or laser assisted.

Scalpel surgery was performed as Clark's vestibuloplasty. A local anesthetic was administered bilaterally to the mental area. Then, a horizontal incision was prepared at the mucogingival junction with a scalpel blade 15c. All the muscle fibers over the periosteum were resected carefully. Following, the mucosal flap was sutured to the depth of the vestibule sulcus with 4-0 polypropylene suture material, once every 4 mm, from a total of 5 regions.

Laser assisted vestibuloplasty was performed using diode laser. Local anesthesia was achieved in the same manner as the control group (scalpel surgery). Laser irradiation was performed in continuous wave mode, using a 980 nm diode laser with a power of 1.5W, 600 μm optical fiber. After adequate local anesthesia, ablation was started from the mucogingival junction and performed with horizontal movements parallel to the bone. The muscle attachments were slowly released until the deepest point of the wound site was 5 mm. The mucosal flap was not stabilized with sutures and periodontal dressing was not used to cover the wound area.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients were> 18 years old and of both genders,
• Patients presenting inadequate vestibular depth and insufficient attached gingiva on incisors in the mandibular anterior region
• Full mouth plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) scores < 1
• The patients had to be systemically healthy and nonsmokers

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who had Miller class II and more advanced gingival recession in the region of the lower anterior incisors and interproximal attachment loss
• Patients who were taking medications that would interfere with the wound-healing process, pregnant or lactating women,
• Patients who had previously undergone periodontal surgery in the study area, who had orthodontic therapy and using fixed/removable dentures involving lower anterior teeth were excluded from the study.