Forums › Laser Treatment Tips and Techniques › Hard Tissue Procedures › Lasers vs. Air Abrasion vs. Fissurotomy
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DoueckDentalSpectatorI find that I switch among these three modalities – in the effort to be “pain-FREE”. I have found that my Bien-Aire Electric High Speed with a new Fissurotomy bur is a dream for class I posterior. I will use thge laser for anteriors and the Air Abrasion together with the Fissurotomy for the posterior.
My philosophy – don’t promise what you can’t deliver. There is nothing worse than a patient who loves you and your staff, and then is disappointed because you suggested that she try the new laser – only to find that the teeth HURT when you use the laser.
I try to have the right tool for the job. Even tho the laser is too much money for too few applications – I have lasers because it fits my philosophy. I won’t be apologetic about not having the cutting edge (often bleeding edge) technology. However I WILL NOT USE THE LASER JUST BECAUSE I OWN IT. It’s like someone who uses adaptic composite instead of a state-of-the-art material… just because he still has some left over. If you plunked down all your hard earned cash because you thought lasers would be the best thing since sliced bread… only to find that its uses are limited,,, very limited… Don’t shoot yourself in the foot a second time and use it JUST BECAUSE YOU OWN IT. Especially in light of the fact that it may not be the best way to do the dentistry that your patient needs. And just because your patient nags about how she wants PAINLESS DENTISTRY… it’s time to grow up and learn how to communicate with your patients. If you would have spent our hard earned cash on a good “Dale Carnegie Course on Public Speaking” your practice would be better off and so would your patients.
Whew… this has been cathartic … thanks for the opportunity to vent… I’ll try to control myself in the future.
Have a great weekend..
SwpmnSpectatorJacques:
Good post, venting is allowed on a Laser Forum. Not everyone is achieving the phenomenal results advertised by the hard tissue laser companies. Dissenting or negative views should be welcome here – we are here to discuss, learn and improve upon our clinical experiences.
We use the Erbium for Class III, IV and V preparations and it works great. Some patients can tolerate the procedure without anesthetic. On the Class I and II lesions we find it is best to anesthetize the patient, rapidly remove enamel with the Bien-Aire electric handpiece, then use our Erbium to remove caries and prepare dentin. We have virtually eliminated use of the old slow speed air driven handpiece and our patients love that!
I guess everyone has to find their “niche” with the hard tissue laser. The Erbium is a useful tool but it’s not a panacea like the laser companies want dentists to believe.
Al
Robert Gregg DDSSpectatorDear Jacques:
That was one of the best, and “healthiest” posts I’ve ever read on the reality of lasers in clinical useage.
I think it is from a realistic foundation of overall clinical needs assessments like you describe, that we can begin to explore the real and awesome potential of all types of lasers (and the “tricks” amd techniques for using them) for the benefit of our patients.
I am so appreciative of Glenn Van As and his willingness and ability to share a wide variety of clinical procedures, and the tips and techniques he uses. He puts his neck out all the time for the naysayers to take pot-shots at. Thanks and keep up he good work Glenn!
I would just like to see less folks feeling justified in attacking him and lasers because they may have been hustled with claims that seem too good to be true–because some of the claims are! It makes it much harder to convince them later on when we REALLY have somethig exciting to say. They say, “Sure, right….”
Thanks Al for the kind words….
All the best,
Bob
Glenn van AsSpectatorHi Bob: I will say that I am surprised and at times disappointed with the reactions that come out of the professionals that visit various forums.
I dont ever post pictures or cases to show my work in a holier than thou attitude. I realize that I have a gift in being able to show magnfied images of lasers through the scope and think it is fun to see what lasers can and cant do.
I have taken alot of flak for the microscope and lasers and most of it is taken and forgotten but sometimes it gets a little disheartening to see how close minded some people are.
I like this forum for laser dentistry because those here have a genuine interest in learning.
I know that lasers are not a panacea for all and not a replacement for the handpiece but with training, some basic knowledge of laser physics, some clinical experience and perhaps a few tips from gurus like yourself and others , many can incorporate lasers successfully in a practice generating more income, and having alot of fun practicing.
I do hope that people here realize that I challenge myself to post the cases I do, because I know that the constructive criticism offered will make me a better practitioner and in turn help my patients towards better end results.
I really appreciated Janet Century’s comments from the Continuum laser symposium that I attended and spoke at. She appreciated my honesty in saying how I use the lasers and not someone standing up and saying that it could do everything. I need to be honest because in the future I will run into some of you and I want you to say I walked the walk and talked the talk.
Your kind words and some of the posts by others like Janet, make a big difference.
Thanks again………
Glenn
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