David:
I would buy my erbium over again. It’s the Hoya Delight. It has the reputation of being a ‘workhorse’, it’s not fussy, few problems. The company has been around along time, they value their customers as demonstrated by their upgraded versawave which can be retrofitted to the Delight for a nominal cost. They designed their upgrade with the loyal customer in mind. They honor their warrranty to the letter and offer several different warranty levels and fees for such. And their tips are polishable which gives them lots of like-new use. You can get miles and miles out of them.
I have learned the hard way that there is ‘no such thing as a free lunch’. You certainly don’t need the diode laser if you own the periolase. A free trip to Cancun? I don’t know about that, I would stick to laser purchaseing.
I have no affiliation to make these statements, it’s just from my persective and with the benefit of the due diligence that I did 3 years ago. You do yours and I’m sure you’ll be happy with your choice. Good Luck with it. Nick

Yep I would buy all 3 of my ER lasers again. Heck I would like to get a fourth. However Susan would lets say not be happy. I have learned so much form each one. As far as Cancun vs the diode. You have the Periolase so you don’t need a diode. My diode is the least used of my lasers….As far as Cancun…Unless you just want to go , I would ask form a discount or more tips. Yep the more I think of it ask for the difference in tips!!! Oh, Better yet an advance course that I hear is soon to be taught!!

David, forget Mexico and the diode (unless you just don’t want to move the periolase for C&B).
Use the discount toward training courses. IMO, getting good with the erbium is much more difficult than the Periolase. the extra training with quickly advance your learning curve.

Hi Andy: If you are going to use a diode, and I use mine every day then I would suggest either Hoya Con Bios Diodent 2, Ivoclars Odyssey 2.4 or even the inexpensive Zap lasers.

I know of at least 2 companies that are working on new diode products and probably they will be looking at releases at around Greater New York or Chicago Midwinter.

I am not at privvy to discuss what the companies are or what they are planning on doing but the emphasis is not on the wavelengths now but on size , portability and there are some pretty cool things coming down the pipeline.

You heard it hear first.

Glenn

Thanks Glenn!

Hi Nick,

By soft tissue crown lengthening I meant removal of soft tissue like a gingivectomy. I ‘m a periodontist so I don’t do closed flap crown lengthening. I own a periolase so I am familiar with the diode mode (which I use on many occasions) and the difference between wet and dry hemostasis.

I guess I was under the impression that the diode lasers removed tissue very quickly like an electrosurge, without its negative effects. The diode mode on the periolase can be a bit slow on cases with very thick fibrotic tissue. Medication associated gingival overgrowth for example.

Thanks for the input!!

Andy