Management of gingival pigmentation using laser depigmentation technique

Gingival hyperpigmentation can be defined as a darker gingival color beyond what is normally expected. Several by-products of the physiological process such as melanin, oxyhemoglobin, carotene, reduced hemoglobin, and iron and/or pathological diseases and conditions are most commonly the contributors of pigmentation. Either it can be due to melanin pigmentation results produced by melanoblasts or environmental risk factors such as tobacco smoking. Pigmentation of the gingiva not just has an impact on esthetics and may range from physiologic reasons (e.g. racial pigmentation) to manifestations of systemic illnesses (e.g. Addison's disease) to malignant neoplasms (e.g. melanoma and Kaposi's sarcoma). Therefore, an insight understanding is necessary of the cause for mucosal pigmentation before planning the treatment. Gingival depigmentation can be achieved using a wide range of procedures, i.e. depigmentation such as bur abrasion, scraping, cryotherapy, electrosurgery, and laser. In the present case report, a laser depigmentation technique was used which is simple and yields good results along with good patient satisfaction.