Perception of soft tissue laser use in orthodontic practice: a survey of orthodontists, periodontists, and general dentists

Perceptions of Soft Tissue Laser Use in Orthodontic Practice: a Survey of Orthodontists, Periodontists, and General Dentists By Brandon G. Burke, D.D.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010 Thesis Director: Steven J. Lindauer, D.M.D., M.Dent.Sc. Professor and Chair, Department of Orthodontics Recently, soft tissue lasers have been introduced into orthodontic practice to perform procedures that were traditionally referred to other dental professionals. The purpose of this study was to compare the attitudes of orthodontists, periodontists, and general dentists regarding the use of soft tissue lasers by orthodontists. The ultimate goal was to facilitate communication among dental professionals and improve the care of orthodontic patients requiring management of soft tissues. A survey was developed to evaluate and compare the current opinions of orthodontists (n=330), periodontists (n=171), and general dentists (n=77) regarding orthodontists’ use of soft tissue lasers. When compared to orthodontists and general dentists, a lower percentage of periodontists indicated that soft tissue laser use by orthodontists was appropriate (P = 0.001). Also, for each of the 8 specific soft tissue laser procedures investigated,