Article Review: CO₂ Laser Therapy for Oral Mucosal Lesions

Raymond G. Lee
6 days ago
2 min read

Hi everyone, this is Raymond Lee from Raymond’s Dental Solutions. Today, I’m sharing insights from a review article by D. Condor and colleagues from the Department of Dental Surgery at the Medical University of Lublin, Poland. Published on August 23, 2021, in Applied Sciences (MDPI), this paper examines the use of CO₂ lasers in treating potentially premalignant oral lesions, such as leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and oral lichen planus.

CO₂ Laser Therapy for Oral Mucosal Lesions

What’s the Focus?

The review looks at a decade of studies (2011–2021) on how CO₂ lasers are used to manage oral lesions—white patches (leukoplakia), red patches (erythroplakia), and painful inflammatory sores (lichen planus)—all of which carry a risk of becoming cancerous.

Key Takeaways

What is a CO₂ Laser?

A surgical laser that targets water in soft tissues like the gums or tongue.
Offers precise cutting with minimal damage to surrounding areas.

What Lesions Were Treated?

Leukoplakia (white patches)
Erythroplakia (red patches)
Oral lichen planus (painful, chronic sores)

How Effective Is It?

High success rates: 60–90% lesion removal.
Recurrence varies: 3–41% depending on the lesion type (lower for leukoplakia, higher for erythroplakia).
Patient experience: Minimal pain, healing in 2–4 weeks, and almost no scarring.

Why Dentists Like It:

No bleeding during treatment.
Faster healing and less pain compared to conventional surgery.
Clean, esthetic results with only minor side effects (mild burning or numbness).

Is It Better Than Other Treatments?

Outperforms scalpel surgery (no stitches, less trauma).
More precise than other types of lasers.
Superior to freezing or light-based therapies.

Any Drawbacks?

Equipment costs ($10,000–$80,000).
Requires proper training for safe use.
Only works on soft tissue—not on teeth or bone.

How the Review Was Conducted

The authors analyzed scientific studies from 2011–2021 using the PRISMA review method, evaluating treatment success, recurrence rates, and patient safety.

Why It Matters

CO₂ lasers provide a safe, effective, and patient-friendly way to treat high-risk oral lesions. They’re especially effective for leukoplakia and beneficial for lichen planus. However, follow-up visits remain crucial to monitor for recurrence—and all suspicious lesions should be biopsied to rule out cancer.

Read the Full Article

Access it free here: MDPI LinkOr search DOI 10.3390/app11177747 on PubMed.

Thank you for reading. At Raymond’s Dental Solutions, I measure success by helping your practice thrive.