Andy , I want to congratulate you for having an open mind. It is unfortunate that more periodontists dont open their mind to the possibilities of lasers in their practice.

I recognize that perio is steeped in the tradition of double blind , randomized , long term clinical trials for almost anything to become standard in their regimen and that literature review is very very important in your field, but it seems that many are interested in not even opening up their mind to change.

As an aside I find that the endodontic community has accepted better than any discipline change and technology in their discipline (microscopes, digital radiography, Niti instrumentation, apex locators, warm gutta percha obturation are all examples of high tech in their discipline).

Not all periodontists are this way…….Dr. Larry Finkbeiner is a periodontist in Colorado Springs who taught me how to use the Argon laser 4+ years ago, but I know that he was ostracized for his ideas on pocket reduction therapy even after providing his own study from his practice showing a 40% reduction in pocket depth on 1300 + pockets.

I am delighted to see you using the laser and hope that with time more periodontists will find out about the benefits of laser assisted periodontal therapy and include them in their practice.

Thanks again for posting your history and nice to have you aboard.

Glenn

Yes, VERY nice to have you aboard Andy!

Rod

Thanks Glenn and Rod
Yes, periodontists are a funny bunch. I have a read alot of liturature and have been largely unimpressed. I am a clinician. I believe in safety and efficacy. If lasers do the job, I am in favor. It certainly won’t be the first time I have disaggreed with the AAP’s position.

Andy

Ron, would you happen to have the complete paper? if so please fax or email. Thanks.

I can easily buy the conclusion in the abstract since it agrees with my original intuition of what may actually be happening when I first reviewed the technology. There are certainly improtant implications (aside from marketing hype) on the performance of 2970 um vs 2780 um if true.

But I don’t have enough understanding of teeth biology (enamel porosity and is it blood or water in the pores, etc ..) to tell from the abstract what they did. Boutoussov and Cozean had a similar paper out when Premier was on the edge of extinction (around the time of the Biolase vs Premier patent litigation) and this sounds like a rehash of that paper. If the paper is correct, things could really be simplified (why bother with the expense and headaches of a adjustable water and air spray?) with a VWR scientific squeeze bottle … like what Bob showed me at his office with his Nd:YAG. 😉

Hey Andy–

Nice to see your posts with Rod!

To All:

Andy deserves a lot of credit for having more than an open mind, but for the personal and professional integrity to look for better ways to help his patients.

Andy is not certain yet on laser perio for gum disease treatment–he needs to evaluate his results over many patients and several months–and that’s just fine with us. Every practictioner needs to evaluate the results of ANY modality in the context of their own circumstances and situations. If it works for them, their patients and staff–great! If not, it doesn’t necessarily condemn the procedure, it just better defines the role a new procedure may or may not have for the clincian.

I took courses in implants for a while when they were just coming ou in 1984-5. Found they just didn’t interest me. I couldn’t “relate” to them. Del on the other hand–having great 3-D spatial relations–LOVES to place them.

Anyway, Andy and his patients are going forward with guarded optimism.

My personal opinion is that Andy and his patients are going to do really well with laser perio–and I’ve told him so–because he is willing to call, or come by and talk about his cases, or special situations or laser settings, etc.

Just like Rod said, we don’t have all the answers. But if we can work together in the best interests of our patients to better understand, then I think we all come out (oot in Candian) ahead.–grin for Glenn

Thanks for participating Andy. Talk with you soon!

Bob

Thanks Bob,

Here is the final cementation of the crown from the previously posted case. This is focused on the lingual tissue to show normalcy and healing of the laser crown lengthening procedure.

I really feel we are doing a wonderful service to these patients, and to be able to have such great results is so rewarding. Obviously, we will follow these cases, and take xrays and photos over the years to see how our results fare long term, but so far, what I have seen, is fanatastic.
Thanks everyone.
Mark

I agree, that was my thought also. I’m sure I’ll have to go back and take care of the ridge sometime, but she couldn’t handle anymore that day. It was a struggle getting that much back together and having the RPD go to place.

Gone back to room temp now that its finally not getting so cold at night in Michigan.Our thermostats automatically set back and during the winter months. We drop the office to about 65 at night. By the time we came in , in the morning, the rooms were warm but the water was not , that’s why we went to warming the water.