Hi Paul,

Thanks for the post!

It seems the former business associate of Millennium Dental Technologies–Lares Research–no longer feels that a “long pulse” in addition to a “short pulse” Nd:YAG is a “marketing gimmick” as their President and CEO Craig Lares and Professor Joel White at UCSF, his researcher in the matter a few years ago, have been calling it for the last 3 years.  😉 😉

I’m glad to see other manufacturers invest the time, money, resources that MDT has invested to develop a new pulsed Nd:YAG platform.  

Dmitri, the head engineer at Biolase, was incredulous a few years ago when we introduced the PerioLase MVP-7 at a trade show, when there are cheaper diodes available for “soft tissue” and “perio”.  I reminded him that the clinical performance of “high peak power” Nd:YAG lasers was quite different in soft tissue than Continuous Wave (CW) or gated pulsed diodes–in perio especially–and that there are hard tissue applications as well using the pulsed neodymium’s selective absorption capabilities in hard and soft tissue that diodes just do not have.  He was very gracious as he came to understand our interest was not “business only” but a strong clinical emphasis.

So this validates what Del and I have been doing since 1996 in being focused on taking the promise of free-running pulsed Nd:YAG lasers to their next level in size reduction, parameter improvements and performance, while ignoring the “conventional wisdom” to follow the company and clinical crowd to diodes.:cool:

However, that’s the easy part of the laser business.  Establishing safe and efficacious clinical protocols for the indications for use is quite another matter.

Now, all they have to do is invest the time, money, and resources that Del and I have over the last 13 years in a clinical procedure of their own design–not someone else’s–for treating periodontal disease (i.e. “Laser SoftCare” )–AND conduct the sort of university-based clinical research that MDT has done for the past 3 years and we continue today.

Once that is done, then maybe they can get FDA clearance for their clinical perio protocol as MDT has obtained for “Laser Periodontal Therapytm”.

As far as the laser devices goes, the PerioLase MVP-7 has 7 pulse durations, the Powerlase has 2.  The PerioLase MVP-7 at 100 microseconds has 300 mj/p at 10Hz (3000 watts peak power), and 300 mj/p at 20 Hz (6.0 watts) for 3000 watts of peak power—high peak powers in the lower rep rates where it is clinically needed the most.  

The Powerlase (according to the press release) gets to 200 mj/p by bumping the Hz to 30 in order to get 6.0 watts (and at what pulse duration???).  Assuming 150 microsecond PD that’s only 1333 Watts peak power–a parameter of very questionable clinical value and a parameter I would personally never need or use at ANY pulse duration.  

So,  from what they describe, I’m not sure that much “power” is available in the “Powerlase”, when all you can get in 200mj/p or 1333 watts per pulse?

That’s the trade off for reductions in size and weight, although the Powerlase is only 7 pounds lighter than the PerioLase MVP-7–about one pound per pulse duration!  Well that’s one way to think about it!:cheesy:

All in all, great news for lasers in dentistry–and especially free-running pulsed Nd:YAG lasers–and affirmation of the work we have done and for MDT, and another voice to spread the word of pulsed Nd:YAG lasers.  I look forward to learning more about their device, their clinical training program, their university research and their FDA clearances;  as well as the opportunity to further explain MDT’s value proposition to new laser prospects and interested clinicians.

Robert Gregg, DDS
President & CEO
Millennium Dental Technologies

(Edited by Robert Gregg DDS at 1:47 pm on Nov. 10, 2003)

Gosh Mark,

That’s really darn nice of you to say.

I do try to keep my comments fair and my opinions even-handed, while being as truthful to the subject matter as I can w/o being disparative or disrespectful.

That’s sometimes is hard to balance when trying to explainreal differences, personal perspectives, and opinion based on past clinical (or business)experience.

I too look forward to meeting you, as you ahve always posted with grace and class as well, and have such enthusiasm for lasers and their benefits for patients.

Thanks again!

All the best,

Bob

Bob – All I have to say is…..Man, you do know your stuff!

I always appreciate your thoughtful and informative responses. Thanks for being the innovator and educator that you are. I always find your words have value.

Kelly

Wow!

Really Kelley and Marc,

Thanks for the wonderful words.

I have a gray hair for everthing I’ve learned along the laser way………

Great to talk with you yesterday Kelly.

Bob

Yes I concur and do believe that Bob and Del have something from everyone I talk to with respect to periodontal therapy and THEIR laser .

I talked recently to Bruce Nelson in Phoenix and he is really excited about the results he is obtaining on his patients. ITs the same with anyone I talk to, Bob and Del know their stuff, walk the walk and have something that I think will soon revolutionize periodontal therapy.

(Can you send me my cheque now Bob!!!??)

Grin

Glenn