980-nm diode laser excision of a giant pregnancy epulis

Abstract

The pure pregnancy epulis is mostly vascular, and generally shrinks or disappears with the drop in estrogen levels following delivery. However, the fibrous epulis or granulomatous epulis may enlarge rapidly in the early stages of pregnancy, necessitating surgical resection after pregnancy. This report described a 25-year-old patient with a post-term pregnancy. She had a lump on the buccal side of left mandibular molar region that was associated with intermittent hemorrhage and eating difficulty. Since the patient feared the conventional surgery, the 980-nm diode laser excision was performed to remove the epulis two weeks after delivery, with the involved teeth preserved. The new technique of 980-nm diode semiconductor laser may be a potential good option to treat pregnancy epulis, with less discomfort and involved teeth preserved.

Keywords: Diode laser; Epulis; Pregnancy.

Fig.1

(A) A pregnancy epulis in the left mandible in the patient at 37 weeks of gestation. (B) The pregnancy epulis remaining in the left mandible in the patient two weeks after delivery.

Fig.2

(A) Intraoperative view of the wound after removal of the pregnancy epulis by 980-nm diode laser. (B) The pregnancy epulis resected by 980-nm diode laser.

Fig.3

(A) The wound had been completely healed at the postoperatively two week. (B) No evidence of relapse in the one-year follow up and the involved teeth remained.