Laser application on periodontal therapy- evaluation of patients' knowledge and acceptance

Background: Dental lasers currently have 24 clinical indications for use that are recognized by the FDa. one of all them is their usage in periodontal nonsurgical treatment procedures. Main aim of this research was to investigate the patients' knowledge and acceptance about laser therapy of different periodontal diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: to evaluate patients' perception and acceptance of laser assisted periodontal therapy a total number of 96 subjects were included in this survey. Patients’ knowledge level and awareness of the advantages of this type of therapy were evaluated through an adequate questionnaire. all of the examined subjects came in the dental office for periodontal treatment. this study was conducted on patients in three dental offices. RESULTS: Most of the subjects (76.04%) did not have any knowledge for the possibilities of laser therapy in the treatment of periodontal diseases. of the remaining percentage of respondents, 65.2% did not know anything about the advantages when laser treatment of periodontal disease is performed. Most of the respondents received their knowledge of the possibilities of lasers in dentistry, 66.6% of them using the Internet. conclusions: the use of laser light in dentistry is a new therapeutic modality, but the knowledge and attitudes of patients about it with regard to periodontal therapy are minimal. What dentists must do is to convey the fact that the application of lasers is a more comfortable alternative or adjunctive method to conventional mechanical periodontal treatment. KEyWORDS: Dental lasers, Periodontal therapy, Periodontal treatment, Laser assisted periodontal therapy, patients knowledg