Forums › Erbium Lasers › General Erbium Discussion › Getting Started
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john conradSpectatorI recently attended a Biolase seminar and was totally amazed at the procedures the Waterlase can perform.I realize this is a fairly aggressive sales pitch but most of the responses on the forums wrt Waterlase are positive.I may be a bit impulsive here but I am going to take the plunge into laser dentistry and could use alittle guidance.(there is no one even close to my area involved in this yet).I would like to know if I should buy the machine first & get familiar with it before taking the training session or vice versa?
I realize proper training is crucial to successfully implementing lasers into a practice but often training is more beneficial when one has a basic understanding of the subject.
Hope someone can shed some light on this for me.John
AnonymousGuestJohn, welcome to LDF!
I think you definitely want to become familiar w/ lasers before you purchase.
Here’s a good place to start (red text are links)- Jeff Manni’s Book– Dental Applications of Advanced Lasers ™ – 2003You might also want to get involved w/ the Academy of Laser Dentistry
I think the big thing is knowing what it is you want to do with the laser (hard tissue/soft tissue/both). Once you know this and have gained an understanding of wavelengths then you’ll be able to choose the correct laser for your needs.
Best wishes on your laser journey and don’t be afraid to post any questions you have along the way, as there are lots of great laser dentists from all over the world who will jump in to help you.
john conradSpectatorHi Ron
Thanks for the reply. I just ordered the DAAL book about 10 minutes ago. I haven’t been this excited about dentistry in a long time. I just want to make sure I do this right the first time.Regards John
Glenn van AsSpectatorJohn : A big welcome from myself to you and congrats on your excitement. There is a wealth of material here in the archives and I can tell you that you can learn tons from just reading the Jeff Manni text and looking at the brilliant cases and material posted here.
This forum works because it talks less about specific brands and more about how to use the lasers in each family.
In a way it is like a family and of all the other forums I go to I enjoy this one the most because people here are open to new ideas, have the ability to constructively criticize and discuss professionally techniques so we all learn together.
I own the Delight laser but have learned as much from Mark Colonna, Ron Kaminer, Ron Schalter, Bob Gregg, Allen Williams and others who own other lasers than the one I own.
That is the beauty here.
Now one word of caution is to be patient with the learning curve. After a week or two you will wonder …….hmmmmm…..did I make a rash decision and then a month or so later you will wonder how you ever lived without it.
In closing one of the greatest things I have seen is new users who come here as “rookies” and now are “grizzled veterans”.
Ron Schalter who runs this site is the prime example of this. Others like David Kimmel , Albert and Allen are those who have an open mind to ALL lasers and are just laser junkies who go to all the courses and see what benefits each brand can offer.
They in turn offer some information for all of us.
I wanted again to welcome you and to tell you that if you get the chance to join the Academy of Laser Dentistry, this years meeting is in Palm Springs and I for one would LOVE to have a pre meeting dinner of all LDF people……..
I personally want to shake the hand of alot of people who have helped me help my patients………there are tons to thank.
Congrats again on your purchase, you are in for one fun ride.
Glenn
2thlaserSpectatorDear John,
Congrats from me as well. I hope you enjoy laser dentistry as much as the rest of us here do! For training, not to promote, BUT, Dr. Bob Barr and I have a monthly 2 1/2 day course we teach ALL the uses of the Waterlase. This next month is in Las Vegas. You can email me privately for any more details if you would like them. We only accept 12 participants so we can have as much one on one hands on laser instruction as possible. We also give the Standard Proficiency exam from the ALD, Dr. Barr has educator status with the ALD, and we also give Standard Cert for the WCLI as well, for the Er wavelength. Good luck, and ask questions, as we are all here to learn and teach eachother, right Glenn, Bob, Ron’s, etc?
Mark
Kenneth LukSpectatorHi John,
Welcome to the forum!
You’ll be addicted to laser dentistry.
Ken
SwpmnSpectatorQUOTEI recently attended a Biolase seminar and was totally amazed at the procedures the Waterlase can perform.I realize this is a fairly aggressive sales pitch but most of the responses on the forums wrt Waterlase are positive.I may be a bit impulsive here but I am going to take the plunge into laser dentistry and could use alittle guidance.(there is no one even close to my area involved in this yet).I would like to know if I should buy the machine first & get familiar with it before taking the training session or vice versa?
I realize proper training is crucial to successfully implementing lasers into a practice but often training is more beneficial when one has a basic understanding of the subject.
Hope someone can shed some light on this for me.John
John:
Get the training first then buy the machine. Read Manni’s book mentioned by Dr. Schalter and also try to get a copy of The Dental Clinics of North America October 2000: Lasers and Light Amplification in Dentistry edited by Robert Convissar(W.B. Saunders publisher). A new edition should be released next year.
Go to a seminar presented by a laser manufacturer such as Biolase World Clinical Laser Institute, HOYA ConBio College of Clinical Laser Dentistry and Lumenis OpusDent Symphony of Light. The competing manufacturers welcome users of any erbium system. You want to get your training not from sales reps but from licensed, wet-gloved erbium users such as Stewart Rosenberg, Mark Colonna, Kim Kutsch, Don Coluzzi, John Graeber, Glenn van As, Robert Convissar and Academy of Laser Dentistry President-Elect Janet Hatcher Rice.
Join the Academy of Laser Dentistry so that when you attend a training conference you will attain your Standard Proficiency Certification. Plan to attend the ALD annual conference next March in Palm Springs, CA. The ALD has an online forum and e-mail contacts where you may pose questions to dentists with extensive laser dentistry experience. It is of utmost importance to first obtain training in laser physics, laser safety, laser-oral tissue interactions and laser treatment protocols prior to your first use of a dental laser on a patient.
Make friends with our forum member Dr. Robert Gregg. Dr. Gregg has been using lasers for as long as I’ve been out of dental school and is our resident “Laser Ph.D.” who we turn to when confused about laser physics/tissue interactions. He has helped me immensely with some of my problems. The guy loves to field questions and help other dentists contemplating the plunge into laser dentistry.
If there is anything I can do to help you please e-mail me at anytime.
Al
2thlaserSpectatorHey John,
Al is being polite….you can learn a TON from him too! Thanks Al!
Mark
john conradSpectatorThanks for all the info & encouragement. I’ve arranged for my first over the shoulder session in Quebec in 2 weeks at Dr.G. Raymond’s office.She’s avery bright young woman and a terrific motivator.I’m anxiously awaiting JManni’s book and will try to dig up the article Al recommended this week.Thanks again guys.
(Hope I can sleep tonight)Regards John
dkimmelSpectatorJohn, Welcome . Manni’s book is great. Spend time running through all the old threads. There is also a recent article in Nov. Dental Practice Report that is not bad. Keep an opened mind and if I can help, let me know. I have learned so much from the people on this form.
David
ASISpectatorHi John,
Welcome as you venture into the wonderful world of laser dentistry. So much has already been said by some prominent participants of the forum. There is a lot of good advice here for sure. Please do go through as much of the old threads as possible for there is an amazing amount of good stuff to pick up.
Welcome again.
Andrew
marc andre gagnonSpectatorHi John,
There is a lot of good advice here for sure.
Manni’s book is great.I have learned so much from the people on this form. Join the Academy of Laser Dentistry so that when you attend a training conference you will attain your Standard Proficiency Certification.
I hope you enjoy laser dentistry as much as the rest of us here do!
Welcome again.
kellyjblodgettdmdSpectatorHello, John. If you’re excited about laser dentistry, then you have just found fuel for your fire. Since I learned of this forum, I have had my mind opened wide! I am constantly learning from the gracious and kind people who post here. I hope we hear from you frequently on here.
By the way, where can I buy this “Manni’s” text on lasers? Anybody? Thanks
Kelly
Glenn van AsSpectator
drnewittSpectatorMost of us here already know about Manni’s book but those who are not quite into the laser movement yet may benefit from some reviews of the DAAL. I have the book up on the front page of dentistryreviews.com if anyone has some time to do a quick review. cheers
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