Broader horizons and indications for use of electrosurgery in oral surgery

Electrosurgery offers oral surgery many unique, invaluable advantages. Hemostasis obtained with fully rectified cutting current, scar-free healing of electrosurgical wounds by granulation secondary repair as well as by primary intention, the ability to perform precise tissue cutting without the use of manual pressure, and sterilization of the surgical field are especially noteworthy advantages. Atraumatic tissue cleavage and sterilization of the wound eliminate and unfavorable postoperative sequelae common to scalpel surgery and contribute materially to rapid, uneventful postoperative healing. The ability to incise tissue precisely without use of pressure and effective hemostasis make possible sophisticated oral surgery procedures that cannot be duplicated safely by scalpel surgery.