Evaluation of the Knowledge and Attitude of Isfahan School of Dentistry Residents and Students towards Laser Application in Dentistry during 2021–2022

Abstract

Introduction: Laser technology has been employed in various medical fields to alleviate pain and lessen recovery time. In the field of dentistry, it is regarded as an accurate and efficient method to diagnose and perform certain treatments such as dental surgery, root canal treatment, and periodontal tissue treatments. Therefore, with the advent of new dental technology, it is critical to raise dentists’ awareness of laser applications. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of specialist assistants and senior general course students toward using lasers in dentistry. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed from 2021 to 2022 in Isfahan School of Dentistry (Iran). The participants were specialist assistants and senior general course students. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of the participants toward using lasers in dentistry. The questionnaire included 26 questions regarding knowledge and attitude toward using lasers in dentistry. The data were analyzed using SPSS software and employing an independent t-test and Chi-square test. Results: The mean score of awareness level was 5.33, and the mean score of attitudes was 49.9, which indicated that students and assistants had an intermediate level of awareness and attitude. Indeed, students and assistants were eager to learn and receive information in this area. Conclusion: The general level of awareness among students and assistants was intermediate, and given their positive attitude toward learning, it seems necessary to place more emphasis on education and awareness for dental students to benefit from this technology. © Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use.