## 4 Discussion  
Based on visual assessments, including EHS and LTH scores, rapid healing was observed in all the groups. The conventional surgical tool group exhibited a more aesthetic healing pattern and was slightly faster than that of the laser group. However, statistical analysis revealed that while the laser group demonstrated good initial hemostasis in periodontal surgical procedures, it also resulted in carbonization and unaesthetic scarring, particularly in the tongue ulcer sites. This may be owing to the laser intensity or other conditions not being perfectly suited to the animal or thin biotype. Additionally, the heat generated during the procedure may have deformed the surrounding tissue, affecting the healing rate [26; 27; 28]. In periodontal surgery and tongue ulcer formation, differences in healing patterns were observed owing to variations in laser intensity and application time, which affected different tissue depths. Histological observation is generally the standard method for observing and evaluating healing patterns in dental research [29]. However, collecting and storing samples is technically challenging and time-consuming. Additionally, sample deformation and size limitations can lead to inaccurate evaluations, as they do not allow for the assessment of the entire soft tissues. Moreover, radiographical evaluation, which is commonly used in clinical practice, has limitations, including difficulty in observing soft tissue, exposure to radiation, and variability in results. OCT, originally used for ophthalmological and dermatological evaluations, is now emerging as a valuable tool in dental field applications. Beyond assessing hard tissues, OCT is increasingly being used to evaluate soft tissues, including biologic width or wound epithelization. In periodontal treatments, evaluating the structure of periodontal tissue is crucial. Factors such as gingival contour and thickness, gingival and sulcurle epithelium, free and attached gingiva, inner connective tissue attachments, and alveolar bone should be assessed before any treatment [16; 17; 18]. Unlike histological and radiographical methods, OCT has the advantage of using only infrared lights, which prevents data distortion and allows for comprehensive observation of tissue changes. High-resolution OCT imaging enables detailed assessment of initial conditions, presence of inflammation, lesion progression, healing extent, and long-term follow-up. Controlling inflammation is crucial for evaluating the outcome of periodontal therapy. Conventional methods for detecting inflammation include visual assessments of redness, edema, and suppuration, bleeding on probing, calculus detection with exploratory devices, and radiographs [30]. However, visual and manual assessments are subjective and limited in their ability to detect detailed changes. Furthermore, radiographic evaluation focuses on detecting bone loss rather than assessing soft tissue, making it challenging to evaluate early inflammation or healing. This study demonstrated changes in the extent of inflammation during the early healing period. In APF cases, both laser-treated and scalpel-treated groups showed an immediate increase in inflammatory tissues lacking normal basement structure. By day 3, the scalpel-treated group exhibited significant inflammation resolution and restoration of normal tissue structure. In the laser-treated groups, remnants of inflammatory tissues were still present on days 3 and 7 in some cases; however, by day 14, healing occurred to a similar extent as in the scalpel-treated groups, although at a faster rate. In the tongue ulcer cases, both laser-treated and punch-treated groups exhibited bleeding in response to ulcer formation. However, the laser-treated groups experienced less bleeding, indicating the hemostasis ability of the laser. By day 7, the punch-treated groups showed significant healing with small scars, whereas the laser-treated groups showed slower healing and larger scars.