Analyzing history is a beneficial way of incorporating previous knowledge into generating novel ideas for the future. The history of dentistry and the subfield of endodontics is extensive, going back thousands of years to the Egyptians. Building on the history of these important fields, researchers can look forward to new technological advancements that can benefit the dental profession. This paper focuses on the “internal history of ideas” where the research of dental experts and practitioners in the area of lasers in dentistry can be analyzed and reviewed. Dental lasers have been in development since 1960, but their utilization has only become more popular in the 21st century. The lasers can be used for soft and hard tissue applications in dentistry. The benefits of lasers in dentistry are numerous, and as pain-free care becomes more popular among the public, it will drive practicing dentists to purchase lasers for their practice.

ID: 10316

pdf ( 256KB )