Waterlase tip replacement - Laser Dentistry Forum

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May 31, 2003 at 5:03 pm #3210 Reply

Anonymous
Guest

Hi all,
I was reading an old Landeburg Thalman (Feb 02) Equity research report on Biolase, that was sent to me, and found an interesting statement.

The paper states;

“Disposable tip sets must be purchased from Biolase at &#36250 per ten tip set, with each tip intended to last for three patient procedures.” It continues to talk about how dentists use the tips longer and that the analysts “predict that the average Waterlase dentist will use each tip 25-30 patients before replacing it.”

This brings me to my questions –

How often were you told to replace tips?
How often do you replace tips?
Could less frequent replacement cause fiber failure due to the tips becoming inefficient, causing heat build up?

Just wondering,

June 1, 2003 at 2:49 am #9326 Reply

whitertth
Spectator

honestly, I replace my tips when i dont hear the loud popping I expext to hear at 5+ watts…I know thats kinda anecdotal but it seems to work..they last alot more than three patients and they would need to come down alot in price for me to do it that way…im sure an inefficient tip contributes to heat buildup and also maybe a difficulty in anaesthetizing patients( if less enrgy is reaching the tip that would make sense to me)

June 1, 2003 at 6:17 pm #9328 Reply

Glenn van As
Spectator

Hi to the two Ronnies……

With the Delight you can polish the tips if they start to break down . It wont return them to 100% but does extend their life beyond the initial uses.

Under high magnification you can sure see when the tips are damaged.

Hope this helps…….

Cya

Glenn

June 2, 2003 at 2:36 am #9329 Reply

Swpmn
Spectator

QUOTE

This brings me to my questions –

How often were you told to replace tips?
How often do you replace tips?
Could less frequent replacement cause fiber failure due to the tips becoming inefficient, causing heat build up?

Just wondering,

Can’t recall being advised when to replace tips.

I use G6 tapered sapphire 750-600 micron tips. Estimate they ablate efficiently for 36 to 48 hard tissue procedures.

Certainly possible that a damaged tip could cause a back up of energy which might damage the trunk fiber. If the cost of the tip could be made reasonable, I would prefer to have a single-use disposable tip for every patient.

Al

June 2, 2003 at 4:42 am #9327 Reply

BNelson
Spectator

I was advised to replace the tips if they stopped “working” or “popping” which when checked closely (under magnification) will indicate they have chips on the end. I don’t know how many uses I get per tip as I rotate them. However, I don’t believe I have ever purchased 10 of them for &#36250. Seems like I pay a lot more than that.
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