A comparative study of radiofrequency and diode laser assisted crown lengthening procedure with clinical and patient centered outcomes

Abstract

Background: Excessive gingival display can be treated with crown lengthening by scalpel, lasers, or electrosurgical equipment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of crown lengthening, performed with diode laser or radiofrequency in terms of patient comfort and clinical outcomes. Methods: 19 patients with type 1A altered passive eruption in the maxillary anterior treated with diode laser (n = 11) or radiofrequency (n = 8) were included. A total of 114 teeth were analyzed. Patient-centered outcomes (post-operative bleeding, pain level, esthetic satisfaction) and clinical outcomes (swelling, gingival color, gingival margin stability) were evaluated at baseline and post-operative seven days, six weeks, and six months. Results: No significant differences were observed in terms of post-operative bleeding, pain, swelling, and gingival color at different time intervals between groups. In both groups, gingival margin change was significant from baseline to six weeks (p < 0.05), while it was non-significant between six weeks and six months, confirming the gingival margin stability (p > 0.05). In terms of esthetics, 17 patients were fully satisfied, with a higher proportion in the laser group. Conclusions: A clinician can safely use both laser and radiofrequency in the treatment of excessive gingival display as both yield favorable clinical and patient-centered outcomes. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.