Comparative evaluation of post-operative outcomes in operculectomy procedures using conventional, electrocautery and diode laser techniques

Abstract Aims: Pericoronitis causes considerable discomfort, encompassing pain and edema, so requiring proficient surgical intervention. Operculectomy is a surgical procedure used to excise the operculum, a soft tissue flap that envelops the crown of a partially erupted tooth, sometimes associated with pericoronitis This research evaluates the postoperative results of operculectomy employing three distinct methods: standard scalpel, electrocautery, and diode laser. Materials and Method: The study assesses postoperative pain via the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and measures wound healing efficacy using the Early Wound Healing Index (EWHI) after a duration of seven days. Twenty-four patients were evenly distributed across the three method groups and monitored for these criteria. Statistical analysis indicated that both electrocautery and diode laser techniques greatly alleviated postoperative pain in comparison to the scalpel method, with the diode laser resulting in the least discomfort. Results: Likewise, wound healing results were more favorable in both the electrocautery and diode laser cohorts compared to the scalpel cohort. The diode laser group had marginally superior wound healing ratings compared to the electrocautery group; nevertheless, the difference lacked statistical significance. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that diode laser and electrocautery methods surpass the traditional scalpel in enhancing postoperative outcomes in operculectomy. Due to its somewhat superior performance, the diode laser may be regarded as a more favorable choice for operculectomy procedures.