PATIENTS PERCEPTION OF LASERS IN DENTISTRY

Background and Objective: Replacement of the dental handpiece (drill) has been of great interest in dentistry because of the overwhelming fe ar by patients to this method of tooth preparation. The driving force to find a replacement seems to be the undocumented requests of dental patients. Patients' perception of lasers and their ability to make a v isit to the dentist easier is the focus of this study. Study Design/Ma terials and Methods: Surveys were given to 100 patients that questione d their perception of lasers. Results: The survey showed that 69% of t he responding patients thought that lasers would make their visit to t he dentist easier. Conclusions: It seems that dental patients' percept ion of the laser is positive, and patients feel that lasers can make t heir visit to the dentist less traumatic. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.