Trunk Fiber

[Glenn van As]

Almost there Mark……..I have a little gift for you today if I get a chance to post it under the erbium section . Look for it in an hour or so.

Glenn

[2thlaser]

QUOTE

Quote: from Patricio on 7:19 pm on Feb. 17, 2003
Mark,

If you have time I think it would be good to list here the steps you recommended at Dana Point for catching these handpiece and trunk problems before the trunk becomes totaled.  I know we are now more careful about flushing the water tube completely before we change burs using 100% air and checking each handpiece as the pictures above suggest before we use them.  Examining the tips for chips and cracks more carefully to reduce backflash.  What else?  You da man!

Pat

Pat, YOU da man! <—the Italian coming out in me!
Well here goes, hope I get it right. The Waterlase seems to be a bit more finickey than some of the other lasers I read about, and this is the care I take in my laser, and mind you, I haven’t blown a trunk fiber in a year, and even a handpiece!(hope I didn’t just jinx myself!)
First of all, when you are done using the laser, place the water toggle in the “off” position, set your air to 100% and place in the “on” position, then the water to 100%, and in the “on” position(note, it’s mostly in the “auto” position when in use), and have the laser unit still turned on. This “purges” all the water out of the trunk fiber, and dries the mirror/handpiece/tip assembly. Some say you don’t have to do this, I think differently. ANyway, it doesn’t HURT to do this, so why not? I also make sure when I change tips, to run the air for a few seconds (“on” position) to dry the mirror before taking the old tip off and replacing it with a new tip. Again, I have been told this is unneccessary, and I may change this myself, it can be a pain.
When you first look into your handpiece from the bottom, make sure the mirror is clean, not fogged, or blackend. If it is NOT clean, don’t use it. Get the mirror replaced. Also, check your tips, if there are any cracks, or initial sparking when you first initiate the laser energy, it’s bad, repalce it. If you use it, you’ll probably foul the mirror. This is really hard to describe, much easier in lecture form! I hope this is a start to help you Waterlase users. Any questions, just call me! It might be easier.
Mark

[2thlaser]

Oh, the office number is 406-862-1010 I am there from 9am – 3pm MST T-Fri. Unless out of town!
Mark

[Swpmn]

QUOTE

Quote: from greg holm on 8:04 pm on Feb. 16, 2003
So, with Delight, you don’t get the black spot?
How much did that little black spot on the mirror in your waterlase hanpiece cost to replace and were you able to do so chairside?
If a Waterlase user, wouldn’t the smart thing be to remove all amalgam with a handpiece first before doing anything to the prep with your laser handpiece?
Greg

After your one year warranty period expires, you will be required to purchase a yearly service contract for the Biolase Erbium laser. Be careful to read the fine print and get it in writing that this covers the delivery system, e.g. burned out mirrors on handpieces. The current fee is &#363800 per year. Handpieces are easily changed chairside. Biolase will send you new or refurbished handpieces the next business day and you will need to return old handpieces with damaged mirrors.

My suggestion would be to never use the Biolase Erbium around amalgams or PFM crown margins. Use of the laser in these cases will result in damage to your tips, mirrors, trunk fiber and possibly the internal components of the laser.

Al

[mike esposito dds]

Having a spare trunk fiber sounds like a great idea…what do they cost, or do I want to know?!

Mike

[Patricio]

Mike,
Welcome to the Board!
I ended up with a spare trunk in the beginning and I can be back in business in 15 minutes when I have a problem. Since I use the laser all day long and many folks want it that way I greatly apreciate that extra trunk. In my geographic location depending upon whien the trunk fails it might mean a full days booking would need to be shuffled or be willing to do it the old way. If I had to pay &#363800 and I was using excellent maintenance procedures I might go with next day air plan and suffle the patients as possible. On the other had if I have a spare trunk and kept my schedule in tact, what are the risks of failure of the laser vs not having a maintenance contract for the second year as a means of paying for it? Something to think about.

Pat

[mike esposito dds]

Thanks for the welcome Pat! So you have an extra trunk fiber and forego the insurance. Hmmm, interesting, but aren’t there a lot of other expensive parts that could break?

Living without the insurance contract is a bit of a crap shoot, isn’t it?

Mike

[Swpmn]

Mike:

You were right on when you said foregoing the maintenance contract after first year is a crapshoot. I guess you could buy a couple of trunk fibers and take a chance but lemme tell you, if something goes wrong with whats inside that white box its thousands and thousands and thousands to fix. You can pick up your laser one day, find it dead and then discover that the internal components need a major overhaul.

Presently, we just go ahead and get the service contract and the company responds quickly to our needs.

Al

P. S. Although I have personally installed two trunk fibers on my Erbium without incident, something became misaligned during my third fiber installment attempt and a technician was required. Without the service contract, it’s &#36750 for the technician to walk through your door.

[Patricio]

Mike,
Due to circumstances and problems I received a new machine after 7 months and in the process I ended up with the extra trunk. I still have four months to go before my first year is up so I am not uncovered. Wouldn’t be nice to know what the typical problems are during the second year and on and the various estimated cost of repairs and calibration. Does the company explain this in some detail when it is time to talk about service contracts? Your opinion and Al’s are useful in helping me decide what is best. Thanks.
Pat

[2thlaser]

I have a question I am not sure of. Maybe someone can answer it. Is there a handpiece manufacturer, that warranties their handpieces more than one year after you buy them? If so, what company? I just was wondering?
Mark

[Swpmn]

Pat and anyone else who wants the truth:

Let me give you an example of what can go wrong with an Erbium laser after your one year warranty:

At approximately 18 months of service I was presented with the fact that my flashlamp, pumping chamber and laser rod had failed. I was given two options:

1) Repair the laser for &#368000.

2) Purchase an extended service contract for &#363800 which would take care of the repair and also cover any further problems for 12 months.

One of my big “beefs” is there was no discussion of long term maintenance costs on the Erbium at the time of sale. Some of the blame has to be placed on myself for being stupid and not asking about long term maintenance when I purchased the laser. Personally, I think it would be in the best interest of dental laser companies to be forthright and discuss service contracts at the time of sale.

Look at it this way. When you go to Best Buy and purchase one of these fancy HDTV’s for your SuperBowl Party they tell you right up front this is a high-tech device that is going to require maintenance. Laser dental companies could learn a trick or two from retailers – you aren’t buying a toaster.

Al

[Swpmn]

Mark:

I have heard that the ConBio DeLight Erbium laser has a two year warranty. Whether or not this covers all of the laser components including the “handpieces” I do not know. I have heard through the “grapevine” that most users of the ConBio DeLight do not use a “handpiece” but a different type of delivery system.

Al

[Patricio]

Al,
I agree and also feel a little foolish.  No one ever suggested any long term issues of maintenance and repair.  I bought in at &#361000 per month and now am learning it is more.  My first reaction was denial.  Can’t we avoid this somehow? But Mr. Tell It Like It Is has given me a whole new prospective.  Sad to say.
Pat

[Patricio]

Al,
I agree and also feel a little foolish. No one ever suggested any long term issues of maintenance and repair. I bought in at &#361000 per month and now am learning it is more. My first reaction is denial. Can’t we avoid this somehow but Mr. tell it like it is has given me a who new prospective. Sad to say.
Pat

[Swpmn]

Pat:

My comments on the Erbium laser have two purposes:

1) Main purpose is to inform current Erbium owners and prospective purchasers of long term maintenance issues and costs. I want dentists to ask the laser companies about service contracts beyond the warranty at the time they are considering the purchase.

2) Secondary purpose is to encourage dental laser companies to discuss upfront at the time of sale long term maintenance issues and service contracts with the prospective dental buyer. Folks in the dental laser company community do read this forum and I can tell you I have personally encouraged them to join our forum.

These issues are in the best interest of the dentist and also the dental laser companies. Dental laser companies should seek a long term relationship with the dentist, reduce the short term interest in sales and focus more on a forthright disclosure of long term maintenance issues on a technologically advanced product.

Al

[Author]

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