Case 5
“Something to really smile about”
Neal Lehrman, DDS, MS
[email protected]
www.thewavelength.org
A 34 year old A.A. female presented with hyper-pigmentation of her gingiva.
While not a medical concern, she expressed a desire to help her create a uniform smile.
Until recently, her options were limited. Gingival grafting , chemical bleaching and superficial de-epithelialization were the only options available. None have been reported to give consistent results. Moreover, the melanocytes reside in the Basal layer directly above the connective tissue. In order to create this effect, one must be able to remove the pigment without damage to the subjacent connective tissue.
Use of the Periolase laser allows for targeted removal of these cells in a comfortable and predictable manner. Native to the ND:YAG wavelength, ( 1064 nm ) is a transparency to healthy connective tissue, Thereby allowing the process to move forward without involvement of the underlying rete-pegs. By leaving them intact , it allows for rapid and complete healing of the site.
The patient presented for one visit and under local anesthetic the de-pigmentation was performed. She was able to fly that day and returned in 7 and 21 days for post-operative visits. The sequence is as follows:
Pre-Depigmentation 3/27/2014