A Must-Have Technology for Practice
Chad C. Duplantis, DDS, on Shofu’s DentaLaze™ wireless soft-tissue diode lase
Throughout my years of clinical practice, we have incorporated numerous pieces of technology. One of the first advancements that we made was to acquire a dental diode laser. We introduced it into our practice in 2004 and haven't once regretted the decision. The rationale behind the purchase was to enable us to perform minor soft-tissue procedures so that we wouldn't have to refer them out. Ultimately, the ability to keep this within our clinical practice was beneficial to both the patients and the clinician.
Having previously used an electrosurgical system, I was already aware of a few of the benefits of diode laser technology. However, immediately after implementation, we took a certification course and realized that there were so many more capabilities. Unlike most dental lasers, the cutting capabilities of a diode laser require it to come into contact with the soft tissue. The diode laser beam operates through a fiberoptic glass tip that must be activated to heat up and cut the tissue. This creates a bloodless and clean surgical site, which rarely requires sutures and results in minimal postoperative pain. Although the majority of the procedures that can be accomplished with a diode laser involve cutting, it also has useful applications involving an unactivated tip that does not come into contact with the tissue. In addition, the power (or watts) used can change the intended effect of the laser. It is therefore imperative that the lasers that we use have adjustable parameters that will allow us to perform multiple different procedures. The capabilities of a diode laser are vast and include the excision of lesions for biopsy, pigmentation removal, frenectomy, vestibuloplasty, gingival recontouring, pontic site preparation, gingival troughing, apthous ulcer and herpetic lesion decontamination/desensitization, implant exposure, and periodontal therapies among others.
Recently, Shofu introduced the DentaLaze™ wireless diode laser. This laser operates at 808 nm and boasts 3 W of constant and 5 W of pulsed infrared power. The power and durable casing allow practitioners to perform multiple soft-tissue procedures with extreme efficiency at a very affordable price. We have been using this laser for the past several months and have been amazed at the quality of its construction and the minimal footprint that it takes up in our office. It is truly a "grab and go" tool in our armamentarium that is always available for use.
For practitioners who are looking to incorporate technology, a laser can be a great addition to any clinical setup. I believe that they are a must-have, and the DentaLaze is extremely affordable. As I often say, "A laser is something that you won't need for every patient, but it is a piece of technology that every dental team needs."
Chad C. Duplantis, DDS
Fellow
Academy of General Dentistry
Private Practice
Fort Worth, Texas
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Perform a variety of soft-tissue procedures with greater patient comfort and less healing time, including hemostasis, frenectomy, gingivectomy, and more.
2. The wireless, handheld DentaLaze is sturdy yet lightweight and ergonomic, and it is controlled through an intuitive push button interface, making it perfect for both anterior and posterior applications.
3. The distinctive green aiming beam guarantees better visibility than competitors' models that feature a red aiming beam, which can be harder to see against a background of intraoral tissue or blood.
4. DentaLaze costs significantly less than many other soft-tissue diode lasers but has features that make it more versatile.
Manufacturer Information
Shofu
shofu.com
800-827-4638
