Today I attended a Laser Dentistry overview presentation given by a highly respected clinician with long term involvement in laser dentistry. Presentation was very positive with regard to applications and mentioned all of the major manufacturers. Here’s what bothered me:

1) Implication that Er,Cr:YSGG wavelength is superior to Er:YAG wavelength:

2) Er,Cr:YSGG wavelength cuts one third faster than Er:YAG wavelength

3)Er,Cr:YSGG wavelength facilitates hemostasis better than Er:YAG

4)Er,Cr:YSGG is much more efficient for ablation of soft tissue than Er:YAG

5)Er,Cr:YSGG wavelength ablates via a phenomenon termed as “Hydrophotonics”. The water spray with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser actually does some of the ablation. The Er:YAG laser only uses water spray as an irrigant, and to quote the speaker “Cuts like a hot poker”.

Although the presentation was very positive, I felt bad as I looked around and saw the unknowing audience nodding their heads.

But……………it wasn’t my party.

Al