Comparison of Er:YAG Assisted Laser Crown Lengthening Against Surgical Crown Lengthening: a Longitudinal Study.

Crown lengthening is a clinical procedure that involves reshaping the gingiva, and sometimes bone, in order to expose more of tooth's structure. The procedures is performed for both functional and aesthetic reasons. In certain instances, this procedure is performed to This procedure is commonly performed for both functional and aesthetic reasons, such as to prepare a tooth for a crown or to enhance the appearance of a smile. Traditional crown lengthening techniques typically involve surgical methods that can be invasive, leading to extended recovery times and postoperative discomfort in this study we compare traditional versus the laser aided crown lengthening to compare the periodontal parameters in both cases.

Laser technology and minimally invasive therapy have become increasingly prominent in various dental fields. The erbium:YAG laser, the newest type, can be used on both soft and hard tissues. This study evaluates the periodontal outcomes of a flapless crown lengthening procedure using the erbium:YAG laser in comparison to traditional methods.

Crown lengthening aims to obtain a larger crown surface by surgical means either by gingivectomy or by recontouring of the cortical bone. The obtained increased crown surface can be used to build crowns.

Conventional surgical techniques involve incisions, elevation of flap and osteoplasty. Subsequently, the flaps are approximated and sutured.

LASER stands for Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Several lasers are used in dentistry including soft and hard tissue lasers. Soft tissue lasers including diode lasers are used to incise the soft tissue, whereas lasers including Er:YAG lasers hard tissue lasers can be used to Er:YAG lasers are known to have good cutting and coagulation abilities on soft tissues.(1) Upon use in soft tissues the laser provides good coagulation resulting in bleeding control. The laser is capable of Lasers offer significant advantages including reduced bacteraemia, reduced post operative discomfort, improved bleeding control and quicker healing. The comfort of avoiding a surgical procedure is an added advantage which may make the patient less concerned about opting for treatment options.