Pat, I think it’s great to rough up prior to cementation, remove any smear layer, and give yourself optimum retention. I do that quite often. Also, Whitefish, is in Northwest Montana, about 22 miles due west of Glacier National Park. You ought to come visit sometime!
Here is a picture of our view!

Thanks for sharing guys, this stuff is a blast! Glenn, I understand your lack of patience, BUT, I feel that it is such less trauma, for the LITTLE bit more of time it takes, and without anesthetic, which is safer, it’s worth it to me. And of course, no more  cracking, and crazing…etc…you know. Just my anal thinking I guess. BTW, Global emailed me, should be seeing a scope soon! I can’t wait. Christmas is right around the corner!
Mark

Cerecdoc,

The concepts and opportunities presented on this board are invaluable.  Beyond that you make your own cup of tea at the chair.  It is very clear who is using what in most cases.  What are the questions you bring?  What will move you forward with your machine?  What  experiences are you having?  How are you marketing your new service?  The regular posters on this site are committed to laser dentistry and willing to share their experience. They have helped me a great deal.  Please join us with your thoughts.

Pat

Larry,
Welcome to the forum.
The  erbium lasers whether er:Yag or Er,Cr:YSGG are very close in their wavelengths and have similar absorption (See DentalApplications of Advanced Lasers-Manni). The effects will be similar but not identical, just as all ErCr:YSGG lasers are not identical. I believe that’s why Bob and others recommend testing the output of your machine. So one Waterlase users settings may be different from yours.

Why do you believe there should be significant differences?

I think the other thing you will find is that you cannot just cookbook this stuff (which is what I thought when I started this forum). Bill Chen does amalgam removal totally different than the way Mark, Pat and I are doing them.You can use others methods to try and adapt to you and your machine, but research or question why they do what they do. I believe most of the posts are good starting points – Use them and see how you might adapt them or make them better. One of the things Bob Gregg has taught me (besides sharing alot of experience and insight) is that I need good reasons for doing what I do with the laser and the science to back it up.

As far as having a Waterlase forum, there won’t be one here,sorry. – Biolase can do that if they want and I’m sure they can afford it! My intent was to have the forum advance all laser dentistry, not just one companie’s product.

So lets hear what you’re doing well with the laser and where you’re having trouble.

I don’t believe you’ll find a better group of lasers users who are willing to share (of course I’m biased and have witnessed first hand how much I and others have moved ahead in laser knowledge and ability thanks to these guys).

Oh by the way the third guy who has learned a ton here from all the gurus……….

was…………….ME!

Cya

Glenn

Marvelous pictures Ron and really cool case.

I have had very very little success with this kind of treatment. Almost every carious exposure despite my attempts to maintain the pulp have ended in endo or a very calcified canal.

Hansen a while back provided some research on his technique and it had great success. I havent been able to duplicate things.

I like the final composite, very nicely done and thanks for posting the pics and NOPE I wont call you a dummy for no preop, it happens to me all the time!

Grin

Good stuff………

Glenn

Bob,

What a useful posting on root sensitivity. I am about to venture into using a Waterlase and I learn the most from this type of posting.

A few thoughts or questions arise: I have assumed that root sensitivity must be a pulpitis. The immediate result of the laser treatment is sealing/sterilizing the tubules but the pulpitis will take a tincture of time to resolve. What are the post op results from the laser treated patients? Does the 20 to 30%remaining sensitivity decrease as the inflamation is resolved with time, and if not, does that indicate there are still areas to treat? Are the patients happy enough with the results that the residual is tolerable and they are not interested in pursuing further remedy?

I have many patients who are as anxious as I am to resolve their root sensivity and I would like to know what to expect. This helps jump start my learning process.

Thanks again.

Great question Ron…….the two cases that come to mind , I did the endos 2-3 months after the restorations were placed. One was a buccal and one a MO that come to mind.

I have two others that have had prolonged pulpal sensitivity that I am watching now and both are leaning towards the endo after the prolonged sensitivity to cold.

I have had two others where the sensitivity lessened. One was a 8 year old and the central ( traumatic fracture) discolored and vitality testing showed no pulp.

The other traumatic lateral calcified in on the pulp when the patient came back 2 years later because mom noticed the tooth getting darker and not matching the restoration……..pulp had calcified in which I thought was strange.

It just hasnt worked for me except on accidental exposures not chasing caries.

I would LOVE to hear what others are finding……in fact this is one area of using the laser that has disappointed me.

It may be something I am doing or it may be the pulp just cant respond despite our best efforts.

Who knows……..Mark? Bob? Ron?

What say ye