DPR: During the last decade, soft-tissue lasers have made big inroads in dentistry. Nineteen percent of surveyed dentists said they plan to purchase the technology this year—vs. 7% in 2005 and 1% in 2002. Do you have any suggestions on how to get the most out of these lasers? Are there any pitfalls dentists sometimes encounter—and how to avoid them—when incorporating soft tissue lasers into their practices?
| | Which technologies do you plan to purchase during the next 12 months?
1. Computerized shade-matching 22% (vs. 7% in 2005)
2. Digital x-ray systems (intraoral sensor-based) 22% (vs. 13% in 2005)
3. DIAGNOdent 18% (vs. 11% in 2005)
4. Digital impression-taking devices 18% (not on the market in 2005)
5. Computer hardware for operatory 17% (vs. 13% in 2005)
Source: June 2008 Technology Census |
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Dr. Flucke: The biggest thing I can stress with any type of laser purchase is training. I’m a certified laser trainer and I can tell you from personal experience that you get so much more out of a laser with training. Even just sitting down with a friend who has experience and getting the feel for what a laser will do can make a big difference. Also, go to the grocery store and buy chicken breasts. Practice on the chicken to get experience with the instrument.
The biggest mistake made with lasers is lack of hands-on experience. Too many times I see doctors purchase a laser and then become apprehensive to use it. This is usually because they aren’t sure what settings to use. Then, after a few months, it ends up on a shelf somewhere.
I use lasers in my practice every day, and their impact is so pervasive that I could not practice without them. Make the effort to get a good feel for the device by training. Also, before you buy, become knowledgeable about the laser you want to purchase. Go to a meeting and look for a good, objective laser course on the science behind the technology.
Dr. Emmott: I love my laser. I could not be a dentist today without my diode laser. I use it every day for so many things. The list includes tissue troughing (we don’t pack cord) cosmetic contouring, reduction of excess tissue, access to subgingival areas, and perio treatments.
We use the same settings 80% of the time. Do not spend a lot of extra money on fancy settings. I use less than 1W most of the time and rarely exceed 1.5W. No need to spend big bucks on a 5- or 6W laser.
DPR: Many dentists plan to upgrade their computer technology this year. Specifically, 19% are focusing on hardware upgrades for their front desk, while 17% will add new treatment room technology. And another 22% plan to update their front-desk software. What are the integration implications when upgrading these items? Are there common missteps dentists might avoid?
Dr. Emmott: Computer hardware should be upgraded or replaced every three to four years. Hardware is a bargain, quality is up and prices are down.
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| | Kavo’s GENTLEray 980 soft-tissue diode laser features an intuitive touch-screen tutorial for easy integration.
Photo courtesy of KaVo.
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Hardware prices are very competitive. You can easily check prices online at Dell or Gateway. However, you need a lot more than just the hardware; you also need the service to set it up, install the applications, set up the network, trouble shoot problems, and provide service and support. These value-added services vary significantly in cost.
Choose your hardware vendor with the same care you would any professional advisor. Get references for someone with dental office experience.
It is easy to pay too much. Front-desk computers can be very simple business machines with little or no media capacity. These should be less than $1,000. Treatment room computers should have two monitors, small-tower size, and full multimedia capacity. These machines should range in price from $1,500 to $1,800. The server is the most important computer and needs the most power. However, a typical general dental office does not need a super server. The price should be around $3,500, including networking software
DPR: Speaking of software, most new computers ship with Microsoft Vista pre-installed. Vista has failed to win over the technology press and is a problem with some dental applications. If possible, consider Windows XP Pro for now and upgrade to Vista later…maybe.
Dr. Flucke: I would avoid Windows Vista at this point in time. You can still get Windows XP installed by manufacturers, and for a myriad of reasons I would use XP. My other advice would be to not skimp on hardware. When you are putting computers into “mission critical” areas, you want good reliable hardware. There is nothing worse than waiting for a computer to access a file, the schedule and more. Too many times doctors buy very low-end computers and then wonder why the staff is so frustrated with using them.
If you are changing your dental software, consider all the implications. Buy software that both you and your staff like. Also consider the conversion process. How much data can be converted? What is the learning curve for the new software?
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