Evolution and advancement of lasers in dentistry - A literature review

Abstract

Technological revolution has maximized access to information and increased popularity in Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) use that raised patient expectations for painless and noninvasive procedures. Currently, lasers have created a potentially profitable arena in patient care and well-being, in the field of dentistry and medicine. Introducing lasers into dentistry helped the practitioners to overcome the constraint of conventional procedures. Recently, the foothold of lasers in modern dentistry provided ease, efficiency, specificity, and comfort both to clinicians and patients. This article summarizes evidence-based published studies on several aspects of laser applications, pros and cons, safety measures, and current advancements in dentistry to convey significant information to aid dental practitioners. To acquire related information, database search strategy was implemented using keywords such as “lasers.” A few decades ago, lasers were handled only by specialists or researchers; however, over the years, laser advancements have revealed a paradigm shift in dentistry, promising a concrete future in all aspects of dentistry and postsurgical care.