Assessment of knowledge and practice of lasers among dental professionals of Central India – An online questionnaire-based survey

Abstract

Introduction: The invention of the laser has sparked the interest of many people throughout history. It is critical to have a thorough understanding of laser use, different types of lasers, and which type of laser is suitable for each case to use laser safely and effectively in various dental fields. Aim: The objective of the study is to assess the knowledge and understanding of the application of lasers and their preferred choices among different procedures in dentistry among dental professionals of Central India. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire-based survey was carried out among dental professionals of Central India. A questionnaire was developed using Google Forms and shared with respondents via WhatsApp and mail. Collected data were analyzed using Stata Version 16 software. The relevance of study parameters on a categorical scale was determined using Chi-square analysis. P value was set at 0.05 as the level of significance. Results: Out of 350 respondents, about 15.4% of dental surgeons were currently using lasers and 75.7% of participants were interested in using lasers. Potential barriers reported were: High cost, procedure sensitivity, and health risks. Conclusion: Lasers need comprehensive training in both theoretical and applied. Incorporating laser education into undergraduate courses may provide students with an early opportunity to learn about and practising with lasers.

Keywords

• awareness
• central india
• dental lasers
• knowledge
• questionnaire
• understanding