Evaluation of Patient Perceptions after Frenectomy Operations: A Comparison of Neodymium‑Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser and Conventional Techniques in the Same Patients

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to compare the level of postoperative discomfort between labial frenectomy done by neodymium‑doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG) laser and the conventional technique and evaluate the differences in the levels of postoperative pain and functional complications such as eating and speaking between these two methods. Materials and Methods: Forty patients requiring labial frenectomy in both jaws were included in the study. One side of each patient was treated with laser, whereas the other side was treated with the conventional technique and all surgeries were performed by the same surgeon. Postoperative pain and functional complications were evaluated for each patient and recorded using a visual analog scale on the operation day and postoperative 1, 3, 7 and 10 days. Results: The results indicated that patients treated with the Nd: YAG laser had lower levels of postoperative pain and were more comfortable while chewing and speaking at the operation day and postoperative 1st day (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that Nd: YAG laser application during oral soft‑tissue surgery provides better patient perceptions and less postoperative pain compared to conventional surgery.

Keywords: Conventional surgery, frenectomy, labial frenum, neodymium‑doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser, visual analog scale