H Wigdor1. 1. Dental Section, Ravenswood Hospital Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60640, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Replacement of the dental handpiece (drill) has been of great interest in dentistry because of the overwhelming fear 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 visit to the dentist easier is the focus of this study. STUDY DESIGN/ MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surveys were given to 100 patients that questioned their perception of lasers. RESULTS: The survey showed that 69% of the responding patients thought that lasers would make their visit to the dentist easier. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that dental patients' perception of the laser is positive, and patients feel that lasers can make their visit to the dentist less traumatic.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Replacement of the dental handpiece (drill) has been of great interest in dentistry because of the overwhelming fear 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 visit to the dentist easier is the focus of this study. STUDY DESIGN/ MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surveys were given to 100 patients that questioned their perception of lasers. RESULTS: The survey showed that 69% of the responding patients thought that lasers would make their visit to the dentist easier. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that dental patients' perception of the laser is positive, and patients feel that lasers can make their visit to the dentist less traumatic.