David–Just funnin’ while I remembered where I put those references…..

Here’s a great one for everyone to start with:

1.  Dr. Paul Bradley’s video from the 1999 ALD meeting in Palm Springs, “Current Status of LILT”.  #039

Very informative, very well presented and entertaining.

Contact Joyco MultiMedia and ask for Bob or Joy (tell ’em I sent ya’) at P: 303-421-0093;  Fax 303-403-9112

2.  Low Level Laser Therapy by Tuner and Hode available from Dr. Larry Lytle of Lasers, Inc. 605-342-5669.  Good book.  Larry is also a great sourch of information.

3.  The Science of Low Power Laser Therapy
by Russian researcher Tina Karu available at Amazon.com for &#3699.95 (used to be around &#36250).

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/9056991086/qid=1045621118/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-0480242-5763108?v=glance&s=books

” target=”_blank”>http://www.amazon.com/exec&#8230;.ooks

Karu’s book is by far the most scientific and also the most dry…….

Larry Lytle is usually at the ALD meetings and is always very fun to talk to.  Ask him about “proud tissue”.

Bob

Man, is this not the coolest thread or what? We gotta get the word out so people can see these images.

I don’t know jack about engineering, but I’m going to go out on a limb and propose a theory:

Biolase developed a “handpiece” delivery system because they knew this would feel very familiar to dentists. If anyone ever looked at the ADT Cavilase it was developed similarly with a “handpiece”. Problem is, you can’t bend a trunk fiber 90 degrees, so Biolase put a mirror in the “head” of the handpiece to reflect the laser beam down the tip and into the treatment area.

Unfortunately, the mirror gets burned or pitted when one touches a metal-containing restoration/base/liner because as Mark said, the laser energy is reflected back up the tip and onto the mirror. As the dentist continues to use the instrument, the outgoing laser energy hits the damaged mirror and is reflected back into the trunk fiber, thus resulting in trunk failure.

But why use a “handpiece” mirrored delivery system at all? The shape of the handpiece casing is what was designed in the 1950’s to contain air turbines or the same as is now used in electric handpieces for gears. I don’t like the laser “handpiece” because it is hard for me to see around the “head” – particularly because it is set at 90 degrees unlike modern air/electric handpieces.

Crawling further out on the limb:

Glenn’s ConBio DeLight trunk fiber does not fail because there is no mirror(although there is an optional “handpiece”). Glenn uses a “pen-like” delivery system, looks similar to an electro/radiosurge unit(he showed me diagrams). I propose that in the ConBio DeLight the trunk fiber does not fail because there is no mirror and the tip acts like a “shear pin” or “weakest link”. When the tip is damaged there will be a reduction in cutting efficiency but no mirror-reflected damage back into the trunk fiber.

Just a crazy theory. Ya’ll let me know what you think and let’s continue this great dialogue!

Al

Here is a picture of a tip, that has a split starting at about 8 o’clock, it runs from the edge of the tip to the inside edge. Very hard to see without magnification. THESE are the tough ones to see, shine your operatory light through them, that seems to help. (like transillumination).

Mark

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

Hi gang. as far as the crack, I would chase it to a reasonable depth. if you can eliminate it, great. if not, I would place a nice temp crown and evaluate the tooth in a few weeks.

Glen,

in your case (very nicely done by the way) why did you choose full coverage? could you have not done veneers or modified veneers instead??

guys,

these types of situations are all too frequent in my office. My best success has been with Tenure bonding agent and corepaste from denmat. The tenure is self cure as is the core paste. use your post of choice ( I try to stay away from metal, too many fractures) and you will get a great build up that is rock solid.

make sure you have an adequate ferrule effect and get enough of the natural tooth structure.