Hey Glenn,
Nice documentation of your work. Wonderful results.
Question why remove sealant w/ bur instead of Erbium?
Jeff

Hi Jeff: Great question. I didnt see any shadows at 16X mag around the FS , and no stain so I figured that it was pretty safe to remove with the 1/16th round bur which has far less scatter than the laser. You could use either but I just wanted to be conservative without creating a huge defect. I use the 1/16th, 1/8th burs early on to open up stained grooves and if there is more decay then the fissureotomy burs , laser, 1/4round diamond which are all a little larger in diameter.

Hope that helps

Glenn

Hi Guys,

I’m re-reading the original question and have some different thoughts.

The term “color” and “chromaphore” in the context of lasers and photonics shouldn’t be taken literally or only in our human limited dimension of visual acuity: blue to red.

Remember with lasers and photonics we are talking about the electromagnetic spectrum–from invisible ionizing wavelengths or “colors”, to the visible non-ionizing/non-thermal wavelengths or colors in the literal sense as we understand them because we can see them, to the invisible thermal wavelengths or “colors”.

That is at least one test question on ALD’s written exam.

The molecular bond is not the absorbing material with erbiums, it is the water molecule. Since the combined wavelengths of white light (blue through red) are all absorbed into the color of black, we have a simple way to refer to absorption by invisible light.

So wavelengths that are highly absorbed in water can be understood to be “black” to that wavelength. Threfore, one way to think about erbims is that water is “black” to erbium–i.e. highly or completely absorbed. Consequently, the “color” or “chromaphore” of erbium absorption is water.

As far as diodes (810nm for example) versus Nd:YAG (1064nm) goes, they are both well in the near-infrared spectrum being only 254nm apart.

So, you have to enter into the equation pulse duration which governs energy density (aka intensity).

Wavelength is critical, but temporal emission mode controls the rate, rapidity, and quality as well as the dimensionality of similar wavelengths absorbed in similar colors.

Does that make more sense?

Bob

David,
Looking forward to seeing you at the ALD in New Orleans. Last weekend, I was at the Periolase/Milliniuum meeting in Las Vegas. Glenn talked about using the chisel tip when doing Class 2 preps as it gives a bigger footprint and thus less time in prepping. Have you tried it? It sure looked logical.

Mossman

Glenn,
I still utilize Air Abrasion at 60psi, 27 micron aluminun oxide to prepare teeth for sealants, remove existing sealants and to remove stains to locate caries in grooves. Caries remaining is then removed with more AA at 60 or 80 psi or with Erbium or small round burs.
One of my assistants, Cheryl, tells me working with me is like cooking Thanksgiving dinner, I use all the utensils everyday.
Jeff

I think that this FS removal with AA is a good thing to do, but I hate using the AA with the scope. The particles clog up the light source and the fan stops and then the lights keep buring out.

That is a funny story about the thanksgiving dinner but true.

Hope all is well in your area……off to write an article.

Glenn