Successful Gingival Depigmentation With Laser-Patterned Microcoagulation: A Case Report

Introduction:Currentmethods for gingival depigmentation, includingmechanical surgery, cryosurgery, laser treatments, and radiosurgery, create significant patient discomfort and risk of complications, thereby reducing attractiveness of the depigmentation procedure for many patients. To our knowledge, this case report presents a first-time application of a new technology, laser-patterned microcoagulation (LPM) based on the concept of fractional laser photothermolysis that was successfully applied in dermatology and ophthalmology. Case Presentation: One patient was treated for local hyperpigmentation of the labial attached gingiva in the maxillary anterior area. A diode laser with wavelength 980 nm and power 20Wwas used to create microcoagulation columns with a 30% area filling factor. Two treatments were performed, 2 weeks apart, without anesthesia. The patient was followed for 5 months. The discomfort during the procedure was tolerable without anesthesia. Healing was uneventful and visually completed with significant reduction of pigmentation at 2 weeks after treatment. Complete visual depigmentation was observed at both 2 weeks and 2 months after the second treatment. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first clinical case of hyperpigmentation treatment using LPM, demonstrating feasibility of a new, minimally invasive and effective method of localized gingival hyperpigmentation removal. The patient discomfort is significantly less than that reported for other methods for depigmentation. Clin Adv Periodontics 2011;1:210-214.