Hi People,

Many good points are brought up to rationalize the present climate in laser dentistry.  The climate change is indeed multi-factorial.  None of it is really as surprising as it might seem if we think about it.

For experienced dentists, the initial entry into the laser world was like a dawn of a new era.  Suddenly, there is this amazing tool that can do things beyond the traditional means.  Handpiece and scalpel are no longer the only staples of the profession.  Certain difficult procedures are no longer such a drudgery when there is a laser at your finger tips.  

The treatments are handled better, the staff members are impressed, the patients are better cared for, and you, the dentist is happier.  Along the way, you pick up more patients and generate more income.  Bonus points for us!

You become excited and try to share your joy with your colleagues, but most are not interested and politely listen to your conquest with you lasers.  Many a times, the responses I get are:  “Do you need it?”  or “Is there a need for that?” or “How much?  And it doesn’t  replace your handpiece?” or “I can do that with my scaplel or my handpiece or my electrosurg or whatever…”

These non-laser friendly souls are contend in what they are comfortable in doing.  And there is nothing wrong with that.  Many of them are providing wonderful treatments for their patients.  But think how much better they can be if a dental laser was part of their practice.  So, there is still hope for a broader market.  

Thank goodness for LDF.  A haven to share our experiences and to learn from one another.  But even with all good intentions and desires to continue to share, the level of enthusiasm cannot be sustained.  

There is life beyond laser dentistry.  One almost needs to take another step back to join non-laser dentistry.  So for laser dentists, we literally have to take two extra steps back to find that balance.

As for newer dentists, they may not find the same need for the dental lasers as the more established practitioners.  Perhaps they have not had as many years in doing certain difficult procedures that the more seasoned among us openly welcome this wonderful tool of light.  Perhaps they are also fresher and are not looking for that certain thing to revive their passion for dentistry.  Not to mention the cost factor that Glenn has eluded to in that new grads cannot have all the tech toys when there are other financial priorities.

However, if the use of the dental lasers is part of the school curriculum and students are introduced to them in their training, then it won’t be such a hard sell upon graduation.  For that to happen, you pretty well have to have all the planets line up in a straight line…..  Wishful thinking when it comes to the Ivory Towers.  The teachings may not be as contemporay as they can be.  Big Bucks and Big Politics.

As laser companies come and go, we just hope that we have done enough homework to have chosen the ones that will provide the best performance clinically and financially.  

The excitement may wane but the journey continues because dental lasers are here to stay.

Cheers to all.   Enjoy the rest of the summer.

Andrew

(Edited by ASI at 4:36 am on Aug. 18, 2005)

(Edited by ASI at 2:58 pm on Aug. 18, 2005)

I have no experience yet on the subject of advertising laser procedures, however, one of my patients is a pediatrician and she was very interested when I asked her to start referring her “tongue tied” little patients to me.
If you want referrals, go straight to the source.

Cool tests. You said tests run with loupes had the same results, right? How did you run the loupe test?
You’re holding the loupes right in front of the PerioLase meter and directing the laser right into the loupe lens?
When we are operating, the laser beam is always directed away from the eye, to me this makes it even safer. Good thing. Where are those darn loupe filters I had anyway, some where around here.

What about a carbon dioxide laser wonder if it would be any different?

It’s just age Ron. When I had the photorefractive keratotomy in 1997 my doctor said “You’re still gonna have to get the little grandpa readers when you turn 42”. I still have perfect vision at distance.

Al

Wonderful tests , I have the laser filters coming and wonder now on their use. CO2 is blocked by glass of any sort I think Allen.

Great tests Ron , very very useful, and I know that all the glass in the scope make a huge difference to blocking the light but I still dont want to take a chance.

Great test

Glenn

Ron,

Great test!

Ummmmm………….

I started forgetting to put the right laser glasses on about 14 years ago.

I’d put the Nd:YAG glasses on, then take them off to put on the Argon surgical glasses, then the Holmium, then ………

When I got confused and used the Argon glasses with the Nd:YAG laser, and I didn’t go blind I stopped using glasses.  Really haven’t for over a decade and that inclde using a microscope all that time.

No changes in  my vision.  I’m 48 and no presbyopia.  I still need glasses for distance as I have fo 25 years.  

Having said that, we train our doctors to wear safety glasses.  “Do as we say, NOT as we do.”  Also, when the new filter for the Global scope comes out, I’m gonna buy it as it sets the right example and won’t interfere with the vision.

But I think it was always a question whether the scope was increasing the focusing of the diverging Nd:YAG or other beams when I was using it.  We have hand-held power meters that we can test with, but I doubt it would show much difference–other than they are more sensitive to powers below 1 watt.

Del  feels the scattered near-nfrared light he gets from biostimulating his sinuses has been the reason he no longer wears corrective lens?

Allen, I’m thinking about getting refractive surgery.  Any focusing problems up close to near as in he practice of dentistry?

Nice post Ron.

Bob

(Edited by Robert Gregg DDS at 10:19 am on Aug. 22, 2005)