Bruce,
Try Danville Engineering to buy your abrasives.
I also use the AA for a diagnostic tool for occlusal caries/sealants. My assisitant told me working for me is like Thanksgiving Dinner everyday, you have to get out all the utensils, plates, pots etc. Whatever works.
Jeff

I’m looking forward to Source 2006. I’ll be taking the standard proficiency course and would like to make sure it isn’t going to be superimposed on any of the other interesting seminars being given. I want to get as much as I can out of it.
Does anyone know if there are speakers that I will miss during the standard proficiency course??

Chris Davis

Bob,
I use AA as a quick technique to remove stain in grooves, old sealants and existing composite to detect caries.
Erbium would destroy and remove more tooth structure and take twenty times longer. I use the Nd:YAG routinely to remove deep dentinal caries, pulp capping, some root caries (AA creates bleeding, problems for bonding unless you shield the gingiva well)
Here is a 50 year old.

Non-smoker. I want to remove stains and sealant, to detect caries or clean the enamel to seal.
Once stain was removed, discovered #4 round bur size caries. This preparation was done with only AA 27micron Aluminum oxide. Erbium could then be used to remove remaining caries. I only use the Nd:YAG in cases with Local. I do this cases w/o LA.

The case was then restored with dentin bonding and composite.
I’ve done thousands of these restorations, one of the reasons I purchases an Erbium was to be able to finish caries removal w/o LA on these type of cases.
There are many different ways for diagnosis, I haven’t used an explorer as the definative test in years.
Case selection determines my treatment. I have alot of laser and non-laser choices.
Jeff

Thanks Jeff,

In those cases of deep decay, AA is faster.

I feel a need to get me some extracted teeth and start experimenting.

Bruce–We recommend that one of the first things you do is get some extracted teeth and see what interactions you can achieve………..

See settings above for decay removal.

Bob

Just had my first experiences with treating paresthesia. Both were post surgery lip paresthesias. Both about 4 years old. Definitely got some good changes on both. But I didn’t use as much energy as you have been using on this thread – I will bump it up for both 2nd visits. Both patients were amazed – frankly so was I.

** About to admit some guilt here – hope you don’t all think less of me**. I think the reason I that I didn’t use enough energy is that, well, frankly I get bored. Maybe I am the laziest SOB on the planet, or have some untreated ADD, but I have trouble sitting there and waving the wand. Um, so, can my staff do this once I’ve located the spots? Legally, morally, ethically? Anyone having them do this – my hygienists are using the laser during RC appts now and this seems less invasive.

Or am I just a lazy slug…….

Sigh.

Off to pay the bills….Janet

Ron,

These are great results. Pleae tell me why you did the ablation phase in “Diode setting”.

Bruce

Hi Robert
Interesting post..from your message I take it that you are using the Waterlase? Any other thoughts out there? Any other wavelengths for this application?
Thanks very much for posting!
Etienne