The Million Dollar Question: What Setting Do I Use?

New laser users often wonder, “What setting do I use for hygiene?” The answer?

It depends!

Imagine treating five different hygiene patients in a day. You may need five different settings for the same procedure. Think of it as customizing a playlist for each patient’s unique needs.

Reading the Tissue: Your Secret Superpower

The key to successful laser therapy is learning to read the tissue. Let’s break it down with a simple analogy:

Basic Math vs. Laser Math: Teaching a child math means knowing what numbers represent. Also knowing how to combine them for the right answer.

Similarly, many laser users expect:

Procedure X + Setting Y ≠ Healthy Tissue

Instead, think of it as:

Procedure X × Setting Y ÷ (Temperature Control + Chromophore)

A Practical Approach to Setting Your Laser for Hygiene

Here’s a straightforward method to find the right settings:

1. Start Low: Begin at a low setting, around 0.5 watts.
2. Observe and Adjust:
   1. Less hemoglobin and melanin: increase to as much as 0.7 watts.
   2. More Hemoglobin and Melanin: Set your laser to 0.4 watts, or the lowest setting.

Always stay within your scope of practice and adjust as you watch the patient's tissue response.

Modern Periodontal Therapy: More Than Scaling and Root Planing

Laser-assisted periodontal therapy is a modern twist on traditional methods. Here’s a quick rundown:

1. Decontaminate the root surface: Start by cleaning the root thoroughly.
2. Laser the soft tissue: Use the diode laser to treat the soft tissue.

If you notice the tissue beginning to whiten, it’s time to switch things up:

• Lower the setting.
• Move Faster
• Increase High-Volume Evacuation

Any one of these or all three may make all the difference in tissue response.

Note: High-volume evacuation manages the laser plume, controls temperatures, and ensures a comfortable experience for your patients.

Temperature Control: No Problem!

Diode lasers don’t come with a temperature gauge, but as long as you keep an eye on the tissue, you'll know what approximate temperature you're working at.

37-50°C (Microbe Level): Ideal for managing viral levels without causing damage.

60°C (Coagulation & Protein Denaturation): This range coagulates tissue. It's good for removing diseased tissue, but not for decontamination.

70°C (Whitening/Welding Effect): Indicates higher temperatures that can be beneficial for specific procedures like tissue welding.

Frequent tip wiping prevents tissue on the tip from coagulating or activating cutting.

Consistency is Key to Achieving Reliable results.

By consistently monitoring and adjusting your laser settings according to tissue response, you can ensure reliable and healthy outcomes for your patients. Additionally, cleaning your laser tip regularly prevents overheating and helps maintain its optimal performance.

Ready to Shine?

Hungry for more laser insights? GLOH Education hygiene courses delve deep into diode laser techniques, giving you the proverbial calculator to provide top-notch care. You won't look at another laser the same way again. Also, adding laser periodontal care to every hygiene visit helps you. You'll gain skills that make your laser care faster. It will be better than other tools that damage tissue and cause pain. Your patients will return, unlike your competitors. Patients will trust your care and the health it brings. Bonus: you get the stellar reputation that you already deserve.

Thank You for Your Dedication!

A big shout-out to all you dental hygienists out there. You do more for your patients' health than they likely know.

Your expertise and dedication keep smiles bright and soft tissues healthy. Keep up the fantastic work, and may your lasers always be perfectly set!

Practice owners, please ensure your team has the support and training they need to help your business thrive. You won't regret it.

Join the Laser Revolution Today!

Ready to elevate your periodontal therapy game? Explore our hygiene courses and become a laser-savvy dental hygienist. Let’s make every smile a little brighter, one laser setting at a time!