At the Southgate Dental Centre we use a Carbon Dioxide Laser machine to deal with a variety of soft tissue surgery. The procedure is done under local anaesthesia and is completely painless. Other advantages of laser treatment is that there is minimal bleeding and no use of stitches. The healing and recovery of the soft tissues after laser therapy are usually better that from conventional surgery.

Procedures which would be indicated for laser surgery include:

• Gingivectomy and Gingivoplasty : procedures to enhance the gingival (gum) contour and architecture
• Frenectomy : removal of a prominent lip or tongue frenum
• Operculectomy : removal of the skin over a partially impacted wisdom tooth
• Crown lengthening: adjustment of the gingival margin prior to crown and bridgework
• Exposure of unerupted teeth: removal of gum over unerupted teeth prior to orthodontics. Commonly done on upper unerupted canine teeth
• Implant exposure: exposure of buried implants prior to taking of impressions (conventional method)
• Sterilisation of bone cavity during apicectomy
• Removal of soft tissue growth in the lips, cheek, gums and tongue
• Sterilisation of periodontal pockets : in cases where gingival bleeding persists after conventional periodontal therapy
• Relief of pain from apthous ulcers
• Removal of discoloured patches in the gingival
• Removal of small haemangiomas