International Journal of Pedodontic Rehabilitation

CASE REPORT
Year
: 2020  |  Volume : 5  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 10--12

Laser assisted management of hyperpigmented gingiva and eruption cyst in children – Two case reports


Paridhee Jalan, Aindrila Ghosh, Shabnam Zahir, Gautam Kumar Kundu 
 Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Guru Nanak Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Correspondence Address:
Paridhee Jalan
Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Guru Nanak Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, 157/F, Nilgunj Road, Panihati, Kolkata - 700 114, West Bengal
India

Abstract

Lasers were introduced in pediatric dentistry to replace the conventional methods and to make the dental visits a pleasant experience for the child patient. Gingival hyperpigmentation is a common esthetic concern in patients with excessive gingival display during smiling. The eruption cyst is a form of soft tissue benign cyst which appears as a circumscribed, translucent, fluctuant swelling of the alveolar ridge seen over the site of an erupting tooth. The current case reports describe the use of diode laser in treating gingival hyperpigmentation and in excising eruption cyst in two child patients successfully.



How to cite this article:
Jalan P, Ghosh A, Zahir S, Kundu GK. Laser assisted management of hyperpigmented gingiva and eruption cyst in children – Two case reports.Int J Pedod Rehabil 2020;5:10-12


How to cite this URL:
Jalan P, Ghosh A, Zahir S, Kundu GK. Laser assisted management of hyperpigmented gingiva and eruption cyst in children – Two case reports. Int J Pedod Rehabil [serial online] 2020 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];5:10-12
Available from: https://www.ijpedor.org/text.asp?2020/5/1/10/289292


Full Text



 Introduction



Gingival health in the form of size, shape, consistency and colour are vital components for an attractive smile. The color of gingiva varies, from pale pink to deep bluish purple. Between these normal limits, a large number of colour variations are observed, which depends primarily upon the vascular supply, the thickness of the epithelium, the degree of keratinization, and the presence of pigments within the epithelium. Hyper pigmentation often occurs in the gingiva as a result of an excessive deposition of melanin which can compromise the esthetics and confidence level in a child specially when visible during smiling. For depigmentation of gingiva different treatment modalities have been reported like bur abrasion, scraping, partial thickness flap, cryotherapy, electrosurgery and laser.[1],[2],[3]

The eruption cyst is a form of soft tissue benign cyst seen accompanying an erupting primary or permanent teeth and it appears shortly before appearance of these teeth in the oral cavity. Clinically the cyst appears as a circumscribed, translucent, fluctuant swelling of the alveolar ridge seen over the site of an erupting tooth.[4] Often these cysts resolve on their own and they require no treatment, but in case they cause pain or discomfort to the patient, bleed or get infected, they need to be excised to drain their contents and expose the tooth. The eruption cyst can either be excised by conventional scalpel method or laser can be used.[5],[6]

In this case report a diode laser was used for the management of the gingival pigmentation and eruption cyst. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry states that little or no local anesthesia is required for soft tissue treatments using laser, reduced chair time is needed and as laser has decontaminating and bactericidal properties, postoperative antibiotics are rarely prescribed. Thus laser is a better option than scalpel surgeries in pediatric dentistry as patient compliance is better.[7]

 Case Reports



Case 1

An 11-year-old male patient, accompanied by his mother reported to the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Guru Nanak Institute of Dental Sciences and Research with the complain of blackish pigmentation of gum. On examination melanin deposits was seen all over the gingiva from incisor to molar region [Figure 1]. Laser assisted depigmentation procedure was planned after taking informed consent of the parent. After oral prophylaxis and maintenance of oral hygiene instructions the procedure was carried out. Topical lignocaine hydrochloride gel was applied in the surgical area. Before the procedure began, patient and dentist were protected from laser light by wearing protector spectacles. A diode laser unit of with a wavelength of 980 nm, in gated pulsed mode, was used. The tip was moved using interrupted brushing [Figure 2]. The saline soaked gauze was used to remove the epithelial remnants. No periodontal dressing was placed [Figure 3]. Follow up was done after 7 days [Figure 4].{Figure 1}{Figure 2}{Figure 3}{Figure 4}

Case 2

A 7-year-old female patient and her parents reported to the Out Patient Department of our college, with the chief complaint of a bluish swelling in her upper front teeth region since last 6–7 months, causing discomfort on biting to the patient. On clinical examination we see the presence of a dome shaped, bluish purple swelling in the region of unerupted 21 [Figure 5]. On palpation the cyst was soft and bled on slightest provocation. Contra-lateral central incisor had erupted into the oral cavity. Radiographical examination showed the presence of unerupted 21 with slight amount of radiolucency seen surrounding the crown. The swelling was given the diagnosis of eruption cyst w. r. t. 21 and a diode laser assisted excision of the cyst was planned. Proper informed consent was taken from the patient's family and all safety precautions taken before starting the procedure. Topical anesthesia using 2% lignocaine spray was achieved by applying the spray onto the cyst. An incision was made on the level of the alveolar bone ridge of the unerupted 21. An output of 1.0 watt was used for soft tissue excision. Bleeding was minimal. As soon as the incision was made, the entire cystic fluid oozed out, the cyst lining was removed and 21 was exposed into the oral cavity [Figure 6]. After 10 days follow-up, excellent healing could be seen and 21 was successfully erupting into the oral cavity [Figure 7].{Figure 5}{Figure 6}{Figure 7}

In both the cases, patient compliance was excellent. There was hardly any pain or discomfort to the child patients. Both parents and children were satisfied with the results. Patients were postoperatively prescribed topical application of vitamin E over the operative area. No postoperative analgesics and antibiotics were prescribed.

 Discussion



Diode lasers offer an excellent atraumatic treatment alternative for different soft tissue conditions in the oral cavity for pediatric patients including the cases discussed above. The wavelength of diode laser is poorly absorbed by hard tissues and these lasers have chromophores for pigmented tissues such as gingival and other soft tissues, thus they are indicated for all soft tissue surgeries. The diode laser has various advantages over scalpel surgical procedures such as better precision, controlled bleeding during surgery and postsurgical course, improved sterilization of the surgical area. There is minimal swelling and scarring, coagulation, vaporization, cutting. Often suturing is not required, and less or no postsurgical pain.[8],[9]

RN Bahadure in 2013 describes and discusses the two cases of gingival melanin pigmentation in 12 and 13 years of female patient and their early surgical intervention.[1]

Kaushik in 2013 reported the efficacy of different techniques of gingival depigmentation by using scalpel, diode laser and electrosurgery.[10] Narendra et al. in 2017 concluded that both laser and electrosurgery are said to be effective treatment technique for gingival depigmentation and laser has been found to be better in terms of depigmentation and postoperative pain.[2]

Boj and Gracia-Godoy in 2006 presented a clinical case of a 6-year-old child with an eruption cyst on the permanent maxillary central left incisor, which was handled using treatment with an Er, Cr-YSGG laser. It did not require suture, there was no haemorrhage, swelling, infection or postoperative pain.[6] Chandel and Kochhar in 2012 presented a clinical case of a 12-year-old child with an eruption cyst in mandibular right second molar treated using diode laser.[11]

 Conclusion



The present case reports have adequately demonstrated the efficiency of using diode lasers for pediatric patients owing to their painless, bloodless, safe approach which makes it child-friendly and a better alternative to methods using scalpels and needles. Behaviour management of pediatric patients is of utmost importance in a dental operatory and lasers offer us that advantage.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

References

1Bahadure RN, Singh P, Jain E, Khurana H, Badole G. Management of pigmented gingiva in child patient: A new era to the pediatric dentistry. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2013;6:197-200.
2Narendra ST, Bhongade ML, Pavan B. Comparative evaluation of effectiveness of LASER with electrosurgery for the management of gingival hyperpigmentation. Int J Oral Health Med Res 2017;3:36-9.
3Lagdive S, Doshi Y, Marawar PP. Management of gingival hyperpigmentation using surgical blade and diode LASER therapy: A comparative study. J Oral Laser Appl 2009;9:41-7.
4Anderson RA. Eruption cysts: A retrograde study. ASDC J Dent Child 1990;57:124-7.
5Aguiló L, Cibrián R, Bagán JV, Gandía JL. Eruption cysts: Retrospective clinical study of 36 cases. ASDC J Dent Child 1998;65:102-6.
6Boj JR, Gracia-Godoy F. Multiple eruption cyst: Report of case. J Dent Child 2000;67:2824.
7American Acacdemy of Pediatric Dentistry, Council on Clinical Affairs. Policy on the use of lasers for pediatric dental patients. Pediatr Dent 2016;38:84-6.
8Goharkhay K, Moritz A, Wilder-Smith P, Schoop U, Kluger W, Jakolitsch S, et al. Effects on oral soft tissue produced by a diode laser in vitro. Lasers Surg Med 1999;25:401-6.
9Pick RM, Colvard MD. Current status of lasers in soft tissue dental surgery. J Periodontol 1993;64:589-602.
10Kaushik N, Srivastava N, Kaushik M, Gaurav V. Efficacy of different techniques of gingival depigmentation: A comparative evaluation with a case report. Int J Laser Dent 2013;3:68-72.
11Chandel V, Kochhar GK. Eruption cyst: Can be treated with diode lasers. J Dent Lasers 2012;6:76-77.