IMPROVING LASER KNOWLEDGE: AN INNOVATIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR DENTISTRY TRAINING IN BRAZIL

Abstract

The use of lasers in Dentistry is promising technology in several clinical specialties, requiring adequate technical and scientific training for safe and effective application. In this context, it is important to understand how undergraduate courses in Brazil have incorporated this theme into their curricula. This study identified and analyzed the offer of laser courses in undergraduate Dentistry courses at public and private institutions. This is descriptive, quantitative research, with data collected between August 2023 and January 2025 through the e-MEC system. Active in-person courses whose Pedagogical Projects, curricular matrices, and syllabi were available online were included. The data were organized in an electronic spreadsheet and analyzed by log-linear regression, considering as variables the nature of the course, the administrative category of the institution, and the geographic region. The analysis revealed that most courses are offered by private institutions, often in an optional or elective format, with mandatory attendance being rare, especially in public networks. A greater number of courses was observed in the Northeast and Southeast regions. The findings indicate inequality in the insertion of laser content between institutions and regions, reinforcing the need for national guidelines that promote curricular standardization and ensure equitable access to technological training among future dentists.