Treatment of oral granulation tissue with the flashlamp pulsed dye laser

BACKGROUND. Surgical excision and debridement is the standard therapy for cutaneous and intraoral pyogenic granulomas (PGs). Occasionally the mass of granulation tissue proves unresponsive to the usual treatment methods. OBJECTIVE. We report a case in which the flashlamp pulsed dye laser (PDL), previously reported as useful in cutaneous PGs, was used in a patient with persistent granulation tissue around dental implant posts. METHODS. An illustrative case is presented with a brief discussion of the use of lasers in dentistry and in the treatment of PGs. RESULTS. Previously resolute tissue responded well to a series of treatments with the PDL. CONCLUSION. The PDL may have utility in this oral condition, providing a new venue for cooperation between dentists and dermatologists.