%0 Journal Article
%T Histological evaluation of the surgical margins of oral soft tissue incisions using a dual-wavelength diode laser and an Er, Cr:YSGG laser; an ex vivo study.
%A Al-Ani AJ
%A Taher HJ
%A Alalawi AS
%J J Appl Oral Sci
%V 32
%N 0
%D 2024
%M 38655987
%F 3.144
%R 10.1590/1678-7757-2023-0419
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>This study compared a dual-wavelength diode laser and an Er, Cr:YSGG laser in oral soft tissue incisions to determine the most effective and safest laser system at the histopathological level.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The (810 and 980 nm) dual-wavelength diode laser was used at 1.5 W and 2.5 W (CW) power settings, and the (2780 nm) Er, Cr:YSGG laser was used at 2.5 W and 3.5 W (PW) power settings. Both laser systems were used to incise the tissues of freshly dissected sheep tongue pieces to obtain the following histopathological criteria: epithelial tissue changes, connective tissue changes, and lateral thermal damage extent by optical microscopy.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The epithelial and connective tissue damage scores were significantly higher in the dual-wavelength diode laser groups than in the Er, Cr:YSGG laser groups (P<0.001), and there was a significant difference between some groups. The extent of lateral thermal damage was also significantly higher in the diode laser groups than in the Er, Cr: YSGG laser groups (P<0.001), and there was a significant difference between groups. Group 2 (2.5 W) of the diode laser was the highest for all three criteria, while group 3 (2.5 W) of the Er, Cr:YSGG laser was the lowest.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The Er, Cr:YSGG laser with an output power of 2.5 W is, histologically, the most effective and safest laser for oral soft tissue incision. The dual-wavelength diode laser causes more damage than the Er, Cr:YSGG laser, but it can be used with a low output power and 1 mm safety distance in excisional biopsy.