A preliminary study of healing of diode laser versus scalpel incisions in rat oral tissue: a comparison of clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical results.

Objective: The aim of this preliminary study was to compare wound healing of rat oral tissues after surgical procedure with diode laser or scalpel. Healing was evaluated histologically, immunohistochemically, and by measurement of 2 nitric oxide synthase isoforms (eNOS and iNOS) as intracellular messenger molecules with important immune functions. The instruments were also evaluated for performance and ease of use.