I keep reading that Caries detector gives false postives when used with the laser. In several of the laser course at DT in Vegas this was brought up. But there was always a lower level rumble that you could tell false postives. Anyone whats up??
David

Bob Gregg is the expert on LLLT ( Low level laser therapy) and biostimulation.

I am not a big guru in this area. I doubt it would improve the pulpitis much but I could be wrong.

Glenn

Caries detector gets all over the enamel………….I hate it.

You need to use high magnification to see the caries or tactile sense with a slowspeed bur.

THis is one concern I have with laser dentistry is that I am positive that a fair amount of decay is being left behind.

SOft mushy decay is tough to remove with the laser and in addition you will find that as the dentin rehydrates from the constant stream of water the caries become the same shade as dentin.

The textures that are different are only visable at higher mags.

Here is a case I did where you can see the false positives ( YOU HAVE TO GO HALF WAY DOWN THE PAGE TO SEE THE FALSE POSITIVES – 3RD CASE DOWN THE PAGE)

http://www.rwebstudio.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/topic.cgi?forum=25&topic=27

Glenn

My 2 cents worth is this. The Waterlase seems to be a bit more sensitive to movement, BUT, I have 3 operatories, and 1 laser, and move it between patients everyday, all day. Just move is slowly, and kindly. I have not seen the alignment change in mine in over a year so far, and I use it 90% of my day on everything. (Biolase ought to use my laser in a study don’t you think? I use it so much). I still, like any other piece of EXPENSIVE equipment, treat it with kindness, and gentleness. It is a precision piece of equipment, like a good camera, and should be respected and treated that way. Ok, my 2 cents, American (Glenn!).
Mark
PS….my wife being out of town, I am getting my posts up eh?

PS…looks like it was an accurate post of pictures. MAKE SURE YOU LOOK THROUGH THE END OF THE HANDPIECE WITH MAGNIFICATION. It is the ONLY way you can really see this.
Mark

Hi Mark: Continuum is making more and more tips for the laser as is Biolase.

At present they have……..

1. 600 micron tips (.6mm) that are 80 degrees, 30 degrees, and straight.

2. 400 micron tips (.4mm ) that are 80 degrees which cut faster at the same energy settings compared to the 600 because the power density is increased when the tip surface area is decreased. These tips are fragile.

3. They make sapphire tips and straight tips for the handpiece design which I dont use (PS I hear through the grapevine that Biolase is coming out with a pen grip). Many of you know by now that I dont use the handpiece design because I cant see around the back of the handpiece with the scope. That is why we use surgical length burs and the sides of burs (angle the handpiece) when using conventional handpieces for dentistry with the scope. The laser is end cutting so it is not as easy to use the side of a laser tip.

4. Endo tips that are 21 26 and 31 mm long and 200 and 300 microns in diameter.

5. A soft tissue tip which is a long think tip that comes to a point.

6. A chisel shaped tip for cutting flaps……….I like this one alot.

THats all that come to mind now but there are others being developed.

30Hz means that it is 30 pulses per second so if you increase the energy to its maximum on the machine it is around 6 watts.

You 6 watts would be 20 Hz and 300 mj per pulse. Not sure if it is better to have 20Hz and 300 mj or 30 Hz and 200 mj, but I know that hitting the tooth 10 extra times per second wont hurt the speed but may hurt the tooth a little more (less relaxation time) and I do think that Biolases shorter pulse duration is a good thing too.

Anyways, thats it for me…….off to hockey.

glenn