title: What laser does your practice need? Advantages, considerations, and practice integration of laser dentistry.
abstract: The use of lasers in dentistry has expanded and improved some treatment options for those clinicians who have adopted the technology. As with all dental materials and instruments, the practitioner must use clinical experience, receive proper training, become very familiar with the operating manual, and proceed within the scope of his or her practice. The potential purchaser should carefully analyze the style and type of the practice to decide how useful the device could be. Moreover, attending introductory courses, seminars, and presentations, such as those at the aforementioned Academy of Laser Dentistry's Annual Conference, or at various state and national scientific sessions, are essential before buying. Because of the varied composition of human tissue and the differing ways that laser energy is absorbed, there is no single perfect laser. However, our patients continue to agree that the dental laser is a wonderful instrument.
authors.affiliation: University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, USA.
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Coluzzi
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003814:Dentistry, Operative / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000191:economics; D007834:Lasers / Q000145:classification; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'