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Perceptions of soft tissue laser use in orthodontics
Brandon Burke1, Ahmad Mohammad Hamdan, Eser Tufekci
1Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
Objectives:
To compare attitudes of orthodontists, periodontists, and general dentists regarding the use of soft tissue lasers by orthodontists during the course of orthodontic treatment.
Materials And Methods:
An analogous survey was developed to evaluate and compare the current opinions of a representative sample (n = 538) of orthodontists (61.3%), periodontists (24.3%), and general dentists (14.3%) regarding orthodontists' use of soft tissue lasers.
Results:
The majority (84%) of orthodontists, periodontists, and general dentists regarded the use of a soft tissue laser by orthodontists as appropriate. When compared to orthodontists and general dentists, a lower percentage of periodontists indicated that soft tissue laser use by orthodontists was appropriate (P < .01). For each of the eight specific soft tissue laser procedures investigated, periodontists reported a significantly lower level of appropriateness than did orthodontists and general dentists (P < .01). Around 75% of the total sample believed that referral would not be affected by the use of soft tissue lasers by orthodontists.
Conclusions:
Orthodontists, periodontists, and general dentists differed in their opinions of the perceived appropriateness of soft tissue laser use by orthodontists, with periodontists reporting a lower level of appropriateness. Clinicians need to communicate effectively to ensure that orthodontic patients in need of adjunctive soft tissue surgery are treated to the accepted standard of care.
