title: Patients' perception of lasers in dentistry.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: Dental Section, Ravenswood Hospital Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60640, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wigdor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D016854:Dental Anxiety; D003762:Dental Instruments; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires