Gingivectomy has been utilized as a therapeutic method to remove diseased periodontal pocket wall in order to aid in root planing. Although chemical agents and electrosurgery has been used in addition to the conventional method of using surgical blades, difficulties in controling the depth of chemical penetration and effectively regenerating the gingival tissue as well as the slow wound healing has been pointed out as shortcomings of these methods. This study was designed to assess the effect of Aloe vera on wound healing of gingivectomy sites created by $CO_2$ laser on palatal gingiva of maxillary molar region of white rats. Those sites treated by surgical blades were designated as control, by $CO_2$ laser as Experimental group I, by surgical blades in addition to topical application of Aloe vera as Experimental group II, and by $CO_2$ laser and Aloe vera application as Experimental group III. Animals were sacrificed at 2 days, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks postoperatively, and the specimens were histologically analyzed. The results were as follows : 1. Resorption of blood clots were observed in the control at 3rd day, followed by the rest of the experimental groups at 1 week postoperatively. 2. Persistent inflammation was observed up to 1 week in the control and Experimental group II and III, and until the 2nd week in Experimental group I. 3. Granulation tissue was observed up to 1 week in the control, and 2 weeks in the rest of the groups. 4. Epithelization started on the 2nd day. The control showed the most rapid epithelization, and the process was completed by the 2nd week in all groups. 5. Experimental group II and III, which were treated with Aloe vera, showed similar healing patterns to the control and Experimental group I.