Comparison of the diode laser applied surgical technique with electrosurgery, cryosurgery and scalpel, in depigmentation due to gingival melanosis. A systematic literature review

Abstract

Objective: to identify the most effective surgical treatment modality in the depigmentation of gingival melanosis in the light of the best available evidence.

Method: A systematic literature review was carried out the electronic search was in the databases: Pubmed / Medline, EBSCO-Host, Cochrane Library, from 2010 to June 2021. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials, comparative studies, longitudinal clinical studies were included.

Results: of 748 studies, only 8 met the selection criteria, most of the studies reported better results in relation to pain and bleeding, in the diode laser technique compared to the electrosurgery, scalpel surgery and cryosurgery methods, 3 studies reported less recurrence with the diode laser technique, in 4 no differences were found and in 1 the recurrence was greater with the method laser. No strong evidence on healing was found when comparing laser treatment and the other techniques.

Conclusion: The diode laser is a technique that showed better results in terms of pain and bleeding, the information is not conclusive on healing and recurrence, when comparing the diode laser method and the other surgical techniques.