| Interview with laser physicist |
| Q: Are all dental diode lasers the same? |
| A: No. Lasers with similar technical specifications could be considered the same if they are made using reliable technology in accordance with safety requirements for medical devices. Unfortunately, some manufacturers are cutting corners to reduce the price by using inferior parts, eliminating safety features and accurate calibration. |
| Q: Are all lasers safe? |
| A: No, only lasers that are safety tested to medical standards and calibrated for dental use. Besides technical safety, bacterial safety is also extremely important. Some portable and micro lasers fall in a risky decontamination group. Our hand piece is autoclavable. Not all are. My lasers exceed FDA safety requirements. |
| Q: Is it important to calibrate a laser? |
| A: Yes, very important to control laser power. I personally hand calibrate output power to +/- 2% accuracy coordinating the wattage display with the power at the fiber tip. The industry standard is +/- 15%, non calibrated lasers are at best +/- 50% making it impossible to follow expert recommendations for power settings. This can result in tissue charring, patient sensitivity, and possibly enamel damage. |
| Q: Why do some lasers lose power? |
| A: A grossly inferior and cost cutting manufacturing method entails combining cheap laser modules then wrapping and gluing the fibers together in a bundle. The bundle is closely connected with the exterior delivery. Laser beam scattering occurs at the connection and laser power rebounds and bounces back burning the epoxy which boils and covers the fiber tip with epoxy and soot. This damages the connection reducing transmission. |
| Q: When will a Fiber Bundle Type diode laser begin to lose power? |
| A: Immediately, if it is designed as described above. |
| Q: Does your Spectralase diode laser lose power? |
| A: No, I design my lasers using Focused Beam laser modules so the laser beam is directly focused from the laser module into the delivery fiber. This allows the beam to pass freely into the exterior fiber. |
| Q: What is the lifespan of your Spectralase diode laser? |
| A: Approximately 5000 hrs of use or about 15 years in a typical dental office. |
| Q: Why did you change the wavelength from 810nm to 980nm? |
| A: The wavelength has been upgraded because studies prove 980 nm light is absorbed more efficiently at the tissue surface with depth penetration 5 times less than with the 810 nm laser beam. |
| Q: Why did you develop the new ElitePulse mode? |
A: Years of medical community research convinced me that short pulses with a duration of approximately 10 millionths of a second with an amplitude of over 6 watts are ideal for bacteria kill, precision, and patient comfort. Even with shorter pulses and higher energy of 6-7 watts; the average power of the ElitePulse mode is much lower than Continuous Wave or standard on/off pulsed lasers. Standard “old fashioned lasers” with 10-25 pulses per second, 50% duty cycle pulses are very close to continuous wave and provide a very slight advantage over CW mode.
Dr George Bekov is a laser physicist with a PhD in lasers and optics. He has over 30 years experience in laser research, design, and manufacturing of advanced medical laser systems. He is experienced in the fields of optics, atomic, molecular and optical spectroscopy. He authored and co-authored 2 scientific books and more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications in international journals.
He received his Diploma (B.S. + M.S.) 1972 with Honors in Solid State Physics,
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology *), Moscow, Russia.
Earned a Ph.D. in 1979 Optics & Lasers, Institute of Spectroscopy of
USSR / Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
1976 – 1992 Institute of Spectroscopy of USSR/Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Head of Laser Analytical Center, 1989-1992 Senior Research Scientist, 1992 - 1996 Atom Sciences, Inc.,Oak Ridge, TN Director of Bulk Material Characterization, 1996 founded Spectrum International, Pleasant Hill, CA
|
| |
|
|
 |
Q: Are all dental diode lasers the same?
A: No. Soft Tissue Dental Diode Lasers with similar technical specifications could be considered the same if they...
|
|
 |
 |
“We are thrilled with our Spectrum Diode Lasers. We use it almost every day, because it makes us more efficient. We liked it so much we bought a 2nd one for our satellite office.”
Dr. Bob Fry, Overland Park, KS
“I have been using my Spectralase diode laser for three years and love it. The product quality and personal touch with training was outstanding. Initially, I was nervous about using a laser in combination with my orthodontics but now I couldn't practice without it. A laser is a wonderful adjunct to treatment and I would definitely recommend Spectralase.”
Dr. Christy Fortney, Escondido, CA
Read more |
 |
 |
|
