Looks great, Glenn excellent treatment!

Third molars are difficult to profoundly anesthetize for restorative when we use conventional handpiece. If we can place restorations with the laser on an unanesthetized patient it is a great benefit.

Retractor idea is great as it is always difficult to retract buccal tissue when we go to place a facial Class V.

Any ideas on placing a similar restoration on the lingual of mandibular third molars? We have an elderly population in Florida and could spend the rest of our lives battling Class V caries.

Personally I have found that using a wooden tongue depressor works well in these instances. Far better than a dental mirror to retract the tongue.

Thank you for sharing,

Al

Have either of you guys tried a Svedopter? I used to use one in dental school, 20 years ago, when I didn’t have a dental assistant. I just ordered a new one, and it is invaluable to keep the tongue out of the was, as well as suction at the same time. If placed gently and correctly, even if they are not anesthetized, it is comfortable. Just a thought. Glenn, how do you post photos to sendpix?
Al, how has it been going with the Waterlase?
Mark

Glenn:

Haven’t tried my tongue depressor technique on unanesthetized patient, probably tastes like crap!

An older(oops, more experienced) female associate showed me how to place a 2 X 2 gauze deep in the lingual vestibule then place the end of the tongue depressor against the mandible(on the 2 X 2) and fulcrum the tongue away. Tongue sticks to the “popsicle stick”.

This would probably hurt a patient who wasn’t numb but I’ve found quite useful for lingual cervical caries and lingual margins of second molar crown preps. Also has taken a great deal of stress off my left arm when I prep #18 and my assistant’s left arm on #31!!!

Works much better than trying to retract with a dental mirror or high volume evac.

Al

I ‘ve used Laser Clip-Ins for my Orascoptic Loupes for over three years. They fit inside the glass frames. Light grey tinted.
Recieved from Innovative Optics 800-990-1455
My inserts work w/ Nd:YAG, Diodes and Erb:YAG wavelengths.

We appreciate your help Ron, Jeff and Glenn.

Al

Could this be just the initial excitement of using the laser? It should resolve with time!!
David

This is week #2 with the Waterlase and the Lasersmile. I have been ignoring the safteyglass issue with the Waterlase and just not using maginicfation with the Diode laser. Yesterday was a fairly full day with using both lasers. At the end of the day I had extreme eye fatique and a headache. My vision in my right eye was blurry. It was almost as if I had a sunburn. Sort of like when I am out on the water on a real sunny day and have forgotten my sunglasses.
Everything is clear this morning. Looks like I will need to decide quickly on what eyeprotection to use. I did find that the safetyglasses from Biolase will fit over the front of my DFV 2.5. I used this with no problems with the diode laser today. It may sound odd but I have to use my DFV 4.5 to even begin to see what I am doing with the Waterlase. The safetyglasses will not fit over the 4.5s but the DFV 4.5 will fit over the safteyglasses. So in the short term I have solved my problem. Not very fashionable but at least my sight is still clear .