Conservative Excision of a Fibrous Epulis Using Diode Laser in a 5-Year-Old Child: A Case Report

¹Associate Professor, Department of Dentistry, Ibn El Jazzar University Hospital, Kairouan, Tunisia

²Faculty of Dental Medicine of Monastir, Tunisia

³ Laboratory of Biological, Clinical and Dento-Facial Approach, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

^*Corresponding author: Farah Chouchene, Associate Professor, Department of Dentistry, Ibn El Jazzar University Hospital, Kairouan, Tunisia and Faculty of Dental Medicine of Monastir, Tunisia, Email: [email protected]

Received Date: September 06, 2026

Published Date: October 27, 2026

Citation: Chouchene F. (2026). Conservative Excision of a Fibrous Epulis Using Diode Laser in a 5-Year-Old Child: A Case Report. Dental. 8(2):28.

Copyright: Chouchene F, © (2026).

ABSTRACT

Background: Fibrous epulis is a benign reactive gingival lesion that may occur in children. Diode lasers have been used for oral soft-tissue surgery because they allow localized tissue incision and effective haemostasis. However, clinical reports describing diode laser-assisted excision of histopathologically confirmed fibrous epulis in young children remain limited.

Case Presentation: A 5-year-old girl presented with an asymptomatic gingival lesion measuring approximately 3 mm, located on the interdental papilla adjacent to the primary maxillary right lateral incisor (52). Clinical and radiographic examinations revealed no underlying bone involvement. Conservative excision was performed using a 980-nm diode laser at 2 W in continuous-wave contact mode with a 300-μm initiated fibre. A minimal, clearly defined surgical margin was used to preserve the adjacent interdental papillary tissues. Adequate haemostasis was achieved without suturing. The excised tissue was submitted for histopathological examination, which confirmed fibrous epulis (focal fibrous hyperplasia). At the 2-week follow-up, complete epithelialisation and restoration of the gingival contour were observed, with no clinically evident residual lesion or early recurrence.

Conclusion: Conservative excision of a small fibrous epulis using a 980-nm diode laser was feasible and well tolerated in this paediatric case, allowing preservation of the adjacent interdental papillary tissues and satisfactory early healing. Further studies are needed to assess the benefits and limitations of diode laser surgery for paediatric gingival lesions.

Keywords: Fibrous Epulis, Focal Fibrous Hyperplasia, Diode Laser, 980 Nm, Paediatric Dentistry, Gingival Lesion