Hi Pat……..the scope is not for everyone but I tell you it sets you apart like lasers from the guy down the street and it sure does allow me to do better work than I could before.

I use the scope for new patient exams, we leave the TV on and allow the patient to follow along as we read of what work exists and what needs to be done.

Often I will use Morita retractors and place them in and allow me to look with both photographic and small mirrors.

I had a lady today whom I finally convinced her to have a crown done on a fractured tooth. Every tooth has fillings that are five surface big.

I placed the crown (she was watching on TV) and then she asked me about her front teeth. Well every tooth in the maxillary anterior has restorations that are huge.

She is coming in all excited as she wants to go ahead and do the crowns up there.

WEird how things are but the scope and the attached video create more work than I can handle and lately its mostly cosmetic.

IN addition I rarely have to explain what I am doing , and patients never question me anymore if I find two restorations, have a pulp exposure find a crack etc.

Its alot less stressful for me now.

Gotta go finish a lecture but here is a little gal we had today (daughter of one of my hygienists who is a single mom ) and the little girl had quite a large DO on the first primary molar (upper left)

All done without anesthetic…..nearly hit the pulp.

Used Marks great little spoons that are sharp as heck and really nice. Mark I mean that, they are excellent.

Glenn

<a href="http://www.karna-ddscomfordent.com/LLLT-2.htm

No” target=”_blank”>http://www.karna-ddscomfordent.com/LLLT-2.htm

No FDA approvals yet for the applications shown by Dr. Karna.

Glenn, Again, fabulous work. I HAVE been AWOL! I have been in Chicago, and off the net for about a week. I am leaving to lecture in Scandinavia and Germany next week, then off to London in April, SO, that being said, it has been difficult to get online. I took some photos today of a case I did, and will try to get it online when I can. I looked at scopes in Chicago, and will test drive one very soon! USE MAGNIFICATION, it’s awsome! Listen to Glenn everyone, he knows what he is talking about, because HE IS DOING IT! DAILY! Thanks for sharing so much Glenn, you are a credit to dentistry!
Sincerely,
AWOL….Mark

Hi David : I have two scopes (started with one).

You can buy one set of optics and with some of the scopes you can change them from room to room if you purchase an arm and fiberoptic for each room you work in.

If you rooms are narrow you can swing the scope from room to room like an xray and have one scope servicing two rooms.

I bought a scope and mounted it in the ceiling solid in one room and then a few years later bought my second scope.

Mark , I had a long talk with Keith Bateman here in Vancouver today at the Pacific Dental Meeting , had a few laughs , talked alot and your name came up.

Make sure you test drive the different scopes that you are testing, and you know what I use but if you are gonna buy another brand that is ok but make sure you talk to me first privately. I can save you some grief.

I thank you for the kind words on scopes. I am glad to see you travelling so much and enjoying yourself. Make sure they pay you well for it, that your family gets to go sometimes as well. You can get stroked and stoked doing this each and every weekend and guess what……..one day your family isnt there anymore.

Look at all the biggies……it happens to their family life.

Make sure you find balance…….I know the best thing I did was let my wife help me decide where to lecture and where not to go. I have given up the opportunity to lecture in Egypt and Caracas because it just didnt feel right from a safety standpoint. It would have been fun to go but not at the sake of safety.

Thanks for the kind thoughts Mark and it really was funny sitting down with Keith today after all that we both have been through.

You gain a better understanding of the man, I still may not agree with some of the things he believes in but we can agree to disagree on certain items.

Oh ya he grinned about the WCLI and my lecturing there and mentioned that he might like me to come and speak about scopes with lasers (without getting into brand names ) and he might be intersted if certain people (like you , Rod and others ) thought it would be interesting to hear that topic.

ALl the best guys and thanks again.

This is a great group.

Glenn

Andy,
I’m not a nd:YAG user (yet-will be in about 2 months, thanks Bob G.) but from my experience with a diode, black is either char (which you don’t want) or remnants of the carbon paper used to ‘activate ‘ the tip.
Any chance of posting pictures? I’m sure someone could tell you exactly what it is then.

There are many uses of lasers the limit is in the imagination of the dentist. FDA limits the laser’s company’s advertising claims, but does not tell dentists how to practice dentistry. You practice under your state’s practice act. You will, however be held to standards for misappropriate and harmful use as they affect your patients, as you would a scalpel or handpiece.
Your laser training, educational certification, experience, CE units, etc come into play.
Also what laser do you use? Type of wavelength, power setting, pulse widths, Type of tip, pulsed or continuous wave matter. One laser does not do all.
I use one of my lasers for decontamination and coagulation after every extraction. No calls at home for post-ext bleeding, No dry sockets in 3 years.
Low energy applications can be used post Endo to promote periapical healing, healing post soft tissue surgery, after tramautic accidents, etc, etc. New uses everyday.
I just got back from the Academy of Laser Dentisry Conference. Thirteen dentists recieved the Academy’s Advanced Profiency Certificaion, over 50 the Standard Certification. In workshops and presentations I learned another dozen uses and taught others some of my techniques. It’s a continuous learning cycle.