Hi Jeff: I think that the laser is a great investment and will make your dentistry alot of fun. It will also make you more profitable in several ways but in my experience not by doing more per hour with the laser. Others may disagree but in my experience the laser will slow you down especially initially.

So how does it make more money , well there are five ways that I know of….

1. More new patients- if you market it (remember that just because you buy it doesnt mean they will come) then you will find that the laser is the single biggest thing you can buy that will bring in patients in dentistry. You may only be able to do 10-15% of the work with the laser if you do alot of crowns and endo or removal of existing restorations, but you do the laser work first , build confidence and then go to the non laser work.

2. More procedures in a given visit (not per hour) as without anesthetic you can complete alot of dentistry in different quadrants. I find that this is particularly true with Class V lesions and in addition with pediatric cases.

3. Doing procedures you referred out or never did before. In your case this would involve soft tissue procedures such as frenectomies, gum lifts. biopsies, gingival recontouring around restorations (Class Vs) etc..
This also involves doing things like minor osseous surgery on the same day as the crown preps. I really believe that the use of the laser for osseous is one of its finest features. This is something I am growing fonder and fonder of.

4. Bringing Hygiene patients back immediately to fill a spot in your day . They come in because they dont need anesthetic and you can bring them down immediately and patient wins as they dont have to make another appointment. You win because they fill a spot. Some like Dr. William Thompson in Seattle will actually use the laser in room #2 instead of their main operative room and what they do is actually do the small laser procedures while anesthetic is going on in room #1 for the endo or large pros case.

5. Some are charging more for the laser procedure, a laser surcharge fee for the laser, or just charging for each procedure more and this will also generate more income. They do it because not every practice has the laser, and they are thinking that the laser is a slower mechanism of treatment so they increase their fee.

Now as for the DVD, I am trying to do something with Hoya , and will see what is possible soon to try to get something going.

Keep in touch with me.

I would seriously look at trying to LVI in February to help iron out some of the difficulties you are having.

Check for the registration for the LVI course at <a href="http://www.conbio.com

Take” target=”_blank”>http://www.conbio.com

Take care

Glenn