PMC8691999_01
Dorsum of the tongue before treatment.
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A 22-year-old nonsmoker woman presented with whitish-yellowish discoloration on the dorsum of the tongue and was referred to a private dental office (Figure 1).
Clinical view of the tongue: (a) immediately after removing half of the lesion by the application of a diode laser; (b) one week after surgery; (c) two weeks after surgery.
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fig2
The laser enjoyed a wavelength of 810 nm, a power of 4 watts, a pulse width 20 milliseconds, and an interval of 20 milliseconds by a 400-micron optical fiber. The half of the lesion was removed by the laser in a slowly sweeping motion 4 mm above the surface and with a 30-degree angle relative to the tongue (to decrease penetration depth and reduce tissue damage) for 3-4 minutes, accompanied by high vacuum suction removal (Figure 2(a)). In the follow-up session after 1 and 2 weeks, partial healing was observed (Figures 2(b) and 2(c)).
Clinical view of the tongue: (a, b) removing the other half of the lesion by the same diode laser mode.
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fig3
The other half of the lesion was removed by the same diode laser mode (Figures 3(a) and 3(b)).
Three months after surgical procedure with a diode laser.
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The patient was also examined 3 months later for assessing any sign of recurrence (Figure 4).