Oral Pyogenic Granuloma Associated With a Dental Implant Treated With an Er:YAG Laser: A Case Report.

A pyogenic granuloma is a tumorlike proliferation that occurs slightly more often in females, frequently involving the gingiva in the maxillary region. Clinically, it presents as a sessile or pedunculated exophytic mass with a smooth or lobulated surface, which tends to bleed easily. Its color can range from pink to dark red. The most common treatment is surgical excision. This case report presents a pyogenic granuloma that formed around an implant 7 years after its insertion. Pyogenic granulomas associated with dental implants are extremely rare; this is the fourth reported case and the first case of pyogenic granuloma to be treated with an Er:YAG laser.

Evaluation of dental anxiety in patients undergoing dentoalveolar surgery with laser treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate dental anxiety in patients undergoing apicectomy procedures performed with conventional instruments or an erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients undergoing apicectomy were divided into two groups; roots were removed with an Er:YAG laser in group A (n=14) and with conventional instruments in group B (n=14). All patients completed preoperative State-Trait Anxiety Inventories (STAI) and postoperative questionnaires. RESULTS: Although state anxiety, trait anxiety, and postoperative questionnaire scores were lower in patients undergoing Er:YAG laser treatment than in those treated with conventional instruments, the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical instruments affect the anxiety levels of dental patients. Even with the STAI scores being lower for patients treated with Er:YAG, use of the Er:YAG laser alone cannot contribute to the resolution of dental anxiety. A patient's individual condition is the major factor influencing that patient's anxiety level.