For many new users the process of tip selection and when and how to best initiate that tip can be quite confusing.
Woodpecker lasers come standard with a multi-tip handpiece which is a fibre optic bundle that carries the laser energy from the front of the laser to the surgical site.
What do the tip colours mean?
Orange - MF2 = 200µm
Blue - MF3 = 300µm
Silver - MF4 = 400µm
The larger the diameter, the larger the area over which the radiation is dispersed.
What does the number on the tip mean?
MF(diameter in microns)-(length in mm) - This means tip MF3-4 is a 300µm fibre, with a working length of 4mm.
DT(diameter in mm rounded to nearest 5) This means tip DT-30 is a 32mm diameter therapy tip.
BT(diameter in mm) This means tip BT-8 is a 8mm diameter therapy tip.
Surgical procedures
Frenectomy | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) 400µm(MF4-4/MF4-9) | Stretch the frenulum and stay in contact with the fiber. Use brush stroke at the base to cut through fibrous attachment. |
Epulis | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) 400µm(MF4-4/MF4-9) | Stretch the tissue and use laser tip like an scalpel to excise the tissue. |
Fibroma | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) 400µm(MF4-4/MF4-9) | Stretch the tissue and use laser tip like an scalpel to excise the tissue. Depending on the size of the fibroma energy can be adjusted until desired cutting is achieved. |
Gingivectomy | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) 400µm(MF4-4/MF4-9) | Gently remove the gingival tissue in contact with the fiber. Caution: Work in parallel to the tooth surface! |
Gingivoplastic | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) 400µm(MF4-4/MF4-9) | Gently remove the gingival tissue in contact with the fiber. Caution: Work in parallel to the tooth surface! |
Incisions/Excisions | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) 400µm(MF4-4/MF4-9) | Stretch the tissue and use laser tip like an scalpel to incise/excise the tissue. |
Implant Uncovery | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) 400µm(MF4-4/MF4-9) | Stretch the tissue and use laser tip like an scalpel to excise the tissue. Caution: Avoid contact to implant and bone! |
Operculectomy | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) 400µm(MF4-4/MF4-9) | Stretch the tissue and use laser tip like an scalpel to excise the tissue. |
Gingival Troughing | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) 400µm(MF4-4/MF4-9) | Gently shape the gingival tissue in contact with the fiber. Caution: Work parallel to the tooth surface! |
Endodontic procedures
Germ reduction | 200µm(MF2-14/MF2-20) | Carefully insert the fiber into the root canal, ca. 1 mm from the apex, start laser and retract fiber slowly in circular motion from the canal (1-2 mm/s). Repeat proce dure 4 times in 5-seconds-intervals. Caution: Do not stay at the apex after laser activation! |
Pulpectomy | 200µm(MF2-14/MF2-20) | After conventional pulp removal, residual pulp tissue can be removed with the laser. |
Gangrene | 200µm(MF2-14/MF2-20) | Carefully insert the fiber into the root canal, directly to the apex, start laser and after maximum 2 seconds at the apex, retract fiber slowly in circular motion from the canal (1-2 mm/s). Repeat proce dure 4 times in 5-seconds-inter vals. Caution: Stay maximum 2 seconds at the apex after laser activation! |
Soft laser therapy
Burning mouth syndrome | BT8-Tip | Move the light guide back and forth over the area being treated so that the entire affected region is covered. Use the power settings provided for this application. |
Dentin sensitivity | BT8-Tip | Move the light guide back and forth over the whole dentine sur face so that the entire affected region is covered. Use the power settings provided for this application. |
Wound healing | BT8-Tip | Move the light guide back and forth over the area being treated so that the entire affected region is covered. Use the power settings provided for this application. |
Miscellaneous procedures
Haemostasis | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) | Stop the blood flow by moving the tip of the laser over the affected tissue surface with opened blood vessels. Avoid bone contact during treatment! |
Aphthous Ul cers | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) | Anesthetics not needed! Apply laser 1-3 mm away from lesion for a few seconds - semicontact, wave the laser fiber over the entire lesion. Interrupt treatment briefly, if pain sensations occurs. |
Desensitisation | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) | Apply thin fluoride solution as described in scientific diode-laser studies on the sensitive tooth areas, apply laser 2-4 mm away from these regions - semicontact, total time per area: 60 seconds. Caution: Avoid contact to dentine, keep laser tip always in motion! |
Herpes | 300µm(MF3-4/MF3-9) | Anesthetics not needed! Apply laser 1-3 mm away from lesion for a few seconds - semicontact, wave the laser fiber over the entire lesion. Interrupt treatment briefly, if pain sensations occurs. |
Germ Pain Therapy | DT15-Tip/ DT20-Tip/ DT30-Tip | Connecting the Therapy handpiece, Lasing the Perio tissue for 1 minute before injection and after Curettage. |
Whitening | Whitening- Tip | Connecting the Bleaching Handpiece (Quadrant), radiate the tooth surface covered with TiO2 gel for 30seconds, wait 1minute to impact and check if the patient feels pain or excessive heat. Repeat above procedure four times for each tooth. Generally do not exceed 6 minutes of total treatment. |
Initiating the tip
Now after selecting the tip that you wish to use, one must consider whether to initiate the tip or not.
"Any time you wish to be in contact with tissue and ablate it, the tip must be initiated"
The process of initiating the tip will concentrate the laser energy in the tip essentially making it a “hot tip”. The monochromatic laser light is turned into heat and hence this process is called a photo-thermal reaction.
The heat that is generated causes a localised zone of vaporisation, surrounded by zones of carbonisation (try to keep this char zone as small as possible), coagulation and hyperthermia. The higher the settings, typically the faster the vaporisation, but the greater these other zones of unwanted lateral thermal damage may be.
In keeping with the Academy of Laser Dentistry’s most current guidelines, which “advise the use of the lowest average fluence to avoid risks of excessive heat complications whenever possible,” Of course total treatment time must also be kept in mind in trying to minimise the collateral thermal damage that can be created by prolonged exposure to laser energy through settings that are not above the ablation threshold required for vaporisation.
After selecting the appropriate tip:
Select single piece of blue articulating ribbon.
Set the laser at 0.5 watts
Touch the tip to the articulating paper first then step on foot pedal for ONE second.
Repeat 8 times or more. The tip should glow an incandescent orange when stepping on the foot pedal (like a candle flame)
Book an in-office demo
Let's set aside a time to meet in your office and demonstrate how to use the Woodpecker range of lasers.
Book an in-office demo HERE or call 1300 029 383.