Laser in Oral Mucosal Lesions - An innovative tool

Laser is a special light source that has a higher power and better quality of beam compared to the other light sources. The word ‘LASER' is not a new term for science and technology. The introduction of lasers to the biomedical field has truly given a technological boost to the way clinicians perform a number of procedures. Soft tissue lasers are becoming popular among the clinicians due to their potential value in surgical procedures providing surface sterilization, dry surgical field and increased patient acceptance. Oral premalignant lesions of the oral cavity such as leukoplakia and erythroplakia remain a diagnostic and treatment challenge. They have a potential for malignant transformation. Management of such lesions includes observation, excision, ablation, or topical medical therapies. The gold standard for management of the clinically evident high-grade premalignant disease is excision or laser ablation. Laser treatment has been a well-established modality for management of premalignant lesions and has potential advantages over surgical excision.