Electrosurgery (Coltène Whaledent, U.S.A)

Three methods of cutting oral soft tissue are used commonlyin dentistry: scalpel, electrosurgery and laser. Each of thesemethods works. However, they are different from the standpointsof hemostasis (arrest of bleeding), healing time and cost of instruments.

Cutting soft tissue with a scalpel is a technique used by everydentist. Disadvantages of cutting soft tissue with a scalpel, includingexcessive blood flow.

Electrosurgery is a controlled, precise application of heatto the soft-tissue site to be cut, achieved by means of carefullydesigned electrodes. The result is a controlled, irreversiblethermal alteration of the soft tissue.

Electrosurgery are used for:

• exposing impacted tooth
• operculectomy (removal of soft tissue covering impacted tooth)
• gingivectomy (removal of gingival tissue)
• gingivoplasty (recontouring gingival tissue)
• tissuemanagement for fixed prosthodontics
• increasing accessfor restorations and crown build-up
• crown lengthening
• periodontal pocket reduction
• frenectomy

These are the advantages of electrosurgery:

• cuts are made with ease when the device is set correctly
• hemostasis is immediate (minimal bleeding)
• cutting is consistent
• the wound is nearly painless after the procedure
• the soft tissue has minimal trauma;

Crown lengthening procedure utilising electrosurgery