ESTHETIC MANAGEMENT OF GINGIVAL HYPERPIGMENTATION USING LASER AND SCALPEL TECHNIQUE – CASE SERIES

The complaint of darkly pigmented gums is common particularly in patients having a very high smile line and possess esthetic problems for them. The degree of gingival pigmentation depends on melanoblast activity. Various treatment options are in practice for depigmentation which include scalpel gingivectomy, free gingival graft surgery, use of chemicals, such as 90% phenol and 95% alcohol, bur abrasion, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, and lasers. Among the various techniques, lasers offer a promising therapeutic option since it is simple, painless, and predictable. The laser has been recognized as the most effective and reliable technique having many advantages as compared to other conventional treatment modalities. It provides a bloodless and painless surgery. KEYWORDS: Scalpel, LASER, depigmentation, esthetics.