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. 2012 Oct;16(4):614-9.
doi: 10.4103/0972-124X.106933.

Treatment of gingival hyperpigmentation with rotary abrasive, scalpel, and laser techniques: A case series

M Bhanu Murthy  1 , Jasjit Kaur, Rupali Das
Affiliations

Treatment of gingival hyperpigmentation with rotary abrasive, scalpel, and laser techniques: A case series

M Bhanu Murthy et al. J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2012 Oct.

Abstract

Melanin pigmentation often occurs in the gingiva as a result of an abnormal deposition of melanin, due to which the gums may appear black, but the principles, techniques, and management of the problems associated with gingival melanin pigmentation are still not fully established. Depigmentation procedures such as scalpel surgery, gingivectomy with free gingival autografting, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemical agents such as 90% phenol and 95% alcohol, abrasion with diamond bur, Nd: YAG laser, semiconductor diode laser, and CO2 laser have been employed for removal of melanin hyper pigmentation. The following case series describes three different surgical depigmentation techniques: scalpel surgery, abrasion with rotary abrasive, and a diode laser. Better results of depigmentation were achieved with diode laser than conventional scalpel and with rotary abrasion with respect to esthetics. The results point out that lasers are an effective and a safe means to removal of hyperpigmentation from the gingiva. Healing was uneventful and no repigmentation occurred.

Keywords: Diode laser; gingiva; hyperpigmentation; melanin.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preoperative – Rotary abrasive
Figure 2
Figure 2
Perioperative – Rotary abrasive
Figure 3
Figure 3
Postoperative – Rotary abrasive
Figure 4
Figure 4
Coe pack placed – Rotary abrasiv
Figure 5
Figure 5
1 week post-operative – Rotary abrasive
Figure 6
Figure 6
3 months post-operative – Rotary abrasive
Figure 7
Figure 7
Preoperative – LASER technique
Figure 8
Figure 8
Perioperative – LASER technique
Figure 9
Figure 9
Postoperative – LASER technique
Figure 10
Figure 10
Coe pack placed – LASER techn
Figure 11
Figure 11
1 week post-operative – LASER technique
Figure 12
Figure 12
3 months post-operative – LASER technique
Figure 13
Figure 13
Preoperative – Scalpel technique
Figure 14
Figure 14
Perioperative – Scalpel technique
Figure 15
Figure 15
Depigmentation with the scalpel technique
Figure 16
Figure 16
Coe pack placed – Scalpel technique
Figure 17
Figure 17
1 week post-operative – Scalpel technique
Figure 18
Figure 18
3 months post-operative – Scalpel technique
Figure 19
Figure 19
Melanin pigmentation index
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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