Comparison of Oral Mucosal Biopsies Done Using Scalpel and Diode Lasers: A Vivo Study

BACKGROUND: As dental lasers are becoming more popular in the branch of oral medicine for its various advantages and applications, this study was carried out to evaluate better mode of obtaining oral biopsies which is a common and inevitable procedure for providing final diagnosis in majority of conditions. METHODOLOGY: In this study, a total of 60 patients who required biopsy for final diagnosis of oral mucosal lesions as part of diagnosis in department of Oral Medicine were selected, out of which 30 were subjected to scalpel biopsies and 30 patients were subjected to diode laser biopsies. A 980 nm Zolar plus diode laser was used for the study. Out of 30 patients who were subjected to laser biopsies, 3W continuous mode settings were used for 15 patients and 3W pulsed mode was used for 15 patients. The specimens were sent to Department of Oral Pathology for histopathological evaluation to provide the final diagnosis. The time taken for each patient, volume of local anesthesia, during operative, postoperative pain scale, and co-relation of provisional and final diagnosis was noted for comparison purpose and the pathologist comments, peripheral tissue damage and artifact's for each slide were noted. RESULTS: The study results showed the postoperative pain was comparatively less in diodlaser than scalpel, the lasers were patient friendly as the heammorage was negligible when compared to scalpel and suturing was not required. The pulsed mode in diode laser was advantageous over continuous mode when amount of thermal damage and postoperative pain score was compared. CONCLUSION: The results showed that oral biopsies can be made better using diode lasers, by having thorough knowledge on the device.