DENTAL DIODE LASERS FOR IMPLANT UNCOVERING: A CASE SERIES

Diode lasers are increasingly being u9lized as an alterna9ve to conven9onal so[ 9ssue surgery. Diode lasers originally referred to wavelengths ranging from 810 to 980 nm, but a visible diode laser with a 445-nm wavelength has emerged as an addi9onal wavelength for so[ 9ssue surgery. The goal of this case series was to demonstrate the clinical results of both visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths when u9lized for stage-two implant surgery. Ten pa9ents with 23 implants were treated at Stony Brook University, Department of Periodon9cs and Endodon9cs and Faculty Prac9ce, for implant uncovering using both visible and nonvisible (NIR) diode lasers. The uncovering was performed u9lizing 445-, 970-, and 980-nm wavelengths at a power sebng of 2 W in either con9nuous or pulsed modes. The fiberop9c 9ps were ini9ated using blue ar9cula9ng paper. Either topical benzocaine or infiltra9on anesthesia was u9lized prior to so[ 9ssue removal with the ini9ated 9p. All pa9ents healed uneveneully without any postopera9ve complica9ons. Visible and NIR diode lasers provide an alterna9ve and safe method to uncover submerged implants at stage-two surgery.