Recent progress with the CO2 laser in oral surgery

This paper reviews the author's experience with the CO2 laser in oral surgery during the last 25 years, together with views on future clinical applications. Linked to a better understanding of the tissue response to the CO2 laser, its clinical use has developed to include excision of benign, premalignant and selected malignant lesions of the soft tissues of the mouth. It is a precise means of removing these lesions with little upset to the patient. The establishment of randomised control trials comparing the laser to other treatment modalities should be encouraged to improve the evidence base. This may require multi-centre collaboration, possibly involving a strategic international framework. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.