Objectives:This study investigated the effects of diode laser on wound healing of palatal mucoperiosteum incisions in monkeys. Methods:Sixteen parallel incisions using diode laser (980 nm) and scalpel were performed in the hard palate of each of two adult monkeys. Power settings of 5, 10 and 15 watts (continuous mode, 200µm glass fibre, without irrigation) were used for the laser incisions. Wounds were harvested at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days' post-wounding time schedule. The specimens obtained were formalin-fixed and processed routinely. Five micron thick sections were prepared and stained with Haematoxylin-eosin, Masson-trichrome and Periodic acid Schiff reagent. Histological evaluation was performed blind. Results: A linear relationship between the severity of tissue necrosis and inflammation, with the power setting used in laser incisions. By day 3, both scalpel and 5 watt laser incisions showed similar wound healing. An intact epithelial covering and connective tissue formation were evident for both types of incisions. At 10 and 15 watt power settings, the laser incisions showed not only a wider area of tissue destruction, but the thermocoagulative changes extended deeply to involve the submucosal salivary glands. Consequently at day 28, a defect caused by the tissue destruction remained evident at the wound site, and healing by secondary intention was delayed. Conclusion: Current findings suggest that at low power setting of 5 watts, 980nm-diode laser produces precise mucosal wounds with healing rates comparable with those of scalpel wounds. At higher power settings, it showed good tissue penetrative properties, and this could be utilized for the ablation of deeply seated soft tissue pathologies.