Dr Nitin Dhanani bought a great dental laser at ADX 2018, but it was just the beginning...
 
This March, dentists across the country will be converging on Sydney’s International Convention Centre. For three days (17th – 19th), ADX Sydney will be playing host to Australia’s largest gathering of dental suppliers, exhibitors and dental professionals.
 
For some, ADX is considered a networking event and hunting ground for advanced technology. Dr Nitin Dhanani remembers ADX 2018 as the place where he first saw the Fotona Lightwalker laser system and met Paul Baltas of Innovative Medical Technologies (IMT), who introduced him to the all-tissue laser.
 
The owner of Figtree Dental needed little convincing to purchase his first Fotona hard & soft tissue laser. The long-time AMD Picasso diode laser user heard great reviews about the Fotona Lightwalker from friends and colleagues leading up to the exhibition. He just needed to see the product up close, although the knowledgeable staff at IMT helped to clarify the few queries he still had. 
 
Post-sale value
 
What really impressed Dr Dhanani came after the sale: IMT’s proactive approach in making sure Fotona users were getting the most value from their laser products.
 
“That’s the thing I found with Paul,” he adds. “He’s not the type of person who sells you a machine and says “see you later”.”
 
It was through IMT that Dr Dhanani signed up and completed the Master in Laser Dentistry Program with the Laser and Health Academy (LA&HA) in 2019.
 
Dr Dhanani affirms the LA&HA Master program as a “must” for any dentist serious about laser dentistry as it delivers in-depth knowledge on the Fotona LightWalker from a broad range of application-based modules.
 
Just as critical is receiving peer support from an online Fotona user group (that IMT set up) – comprising Australian and overseas course graduates – that picks up the slack whenever his memory gets a bit foggy.
 
For all intents and purposes
 
The Fotona Lightwalker is a dual wavelength (Er:YAG and Nd:YAG) universal laser that covers virtually all laser-assisted dental restorative treatments, TouchWhite® tooth whitening, TwinLight® periodontal therapy, peri-implantitis, SWEEPS® endodontics, oral surgery, NightLase® snoring treatments, Photobiomodulation therapy and dento-facial aesthetic treatments.

Dr Dhanani uses it for traditional “in-the-mouth” treatments including gum reshaping and contouring, atraumatic removal of porcelain veneers in addition to facial aesthetic cases such as collagen tightening without fillers, lip plumping (using Liplase) and skin resurfacing.
 
“It’s a remarkable multi-purpose laser that helps to fill in the gaps in dentistry applications and patient care,” he enthuses.
 
“Not only that, it helps deliver quality fillings, pain-free dentistry and gentle patient care while improving healing times and longevity of treatment. What else can you ask for?”
 
It’s also a surprise hit with patients who request for minimally invasive care.
 
Some of our patients upon hearing the word ‘laser’ immediately think that it is painful,” he adds.
 
“After the treatment, they  are surprised at how painless it really is.”
 
Swiss army laser
 
Perhaps Dr Dhanani needed even less encouragement to purchase his next laser, the RADIANT S1TM Blue 3-wavelength Dental Diode. Not least because it came highly recommended by someone whose expert opinion he has come to trust.
 
Although function-wise less comprehensive than the Fotona Lightwalker, the RADIANT H1 represents an affordable entry-level 810nm laser that covers quite a bit of ground, whilst the S1 Blue triple wavelength system represents the current pinnacle in dental diode laser technology says Paul Baltas. 
 
“Other PBM therapeutic lasers ranging from $40,000 - $75,000 can’t even offer any of the surgical procedures that the RADIANT H1 & S1 lasers provide at only 10-20% of the cost.” he says.
 
“While the majority of competitors offer PBM laser applicators in the milliwatt range (typically <1/2 watt of power), the CLASS 4: H1 & S1 units offer up to 10 Watts and include different size PBM handpieces for both large area extraoral and inside-the-mouth therapeutc applications at a fraction of the time of class 3 lasers.
 
What Paul dubs a “laser Swiss army knife” the S1 offers a host of applications: periodontal therapy, soft tissue surgery, photo-activated disinfection, cosmetic dentistry, tooth whitening, photo-dynamic therapy photobiomodulation for wound healing and pain management.
 
Using the S1 mostly for gum correction and contouring as well as curing composites, Dr Dhanani comments: “The blue wavelength lets you cure the fillings easily with minimal temperature rise. The desensitising and photobiomodulation features are also very impressive.”
 
“Swapping between the Lightwalker and S1 when the handpieces for one of them are being sterilised also means that I get to move forward in an efficient workflow,” Dr Dhanani praises.
 
“The two lasers complement each other very well. They definitely help to raise the quality of treatments and standard of patient care.”
 
Something in the water
 
Another area of patient care that Dr Dhanani has revisited over the last year is infection control.
 
Once again, he credits IMT’s recommendation for his choice of infection control system – the Biosure range of Advanced Ozone Technologies for Infection Control in Dentistry.
 
According to the product literature, ozone directly oxidises the cell body of bacteria and viruses, destroying their RNA to achieve an inhibitory effect. The sanitation, it claims, is 3000 times faster than chlorine whilst remaining both safe and environmentally friendly.
 
Biosure produce Ozone generators utilsing patented electrolysis technology that converts regular tap water into ozone solutions used by many industries throughout Australia for over 10 years.
 
Dr Dhanani was one of the first to invest in the latest range of Biosure ozone solutions, which IMT are officially launching during the upcoming ADX22 in Sydney.
 
Among the dentist’s early-bird pickings were: Compact Disinfection Unit Plus (CDU+), SHIELD Space Sanitizer System, Ozone Spray Bottle and the Oral Rinse Tumbler
 
The Compact Disinfection Unit Plus / CDU+ is the upgraded version of a popular disinfection unit that dispenses high grade electrolytic ozonated water along with molecular hydrogen rich water.
 
The latter, Paul explains, shows unique potential for its antioxident effect.

As cited in the recently published randomized, double-blind trial: Hydrogen-rich water reduces inflammatory responses and prevents apoptosis of peripheral blood cells in healthy adults.1
 
In the current climate, the biggest selling point of the CDU Plus is the ozonated water.
 
“Ozonated water (O3)  is a strong oxidant, in which the oxygen molecules are in an extremely unstable and reactive state,”.
 
“This characteristic is what makes it so potent in breaking down cell walls of viruses, bacteria and microorganisms in seconds.”
 
Dispensed via a digitally controlled facet with infra-red sensors enabling touch-free operation, ozonated water is ideal for a host of disinfection purposes: hand-washing, surface disinfection (including dental chairs and equipment), mouth rinse, instrument pre-wash, bacteria-free water source and treatment area irrigation (direct patient oral application use).
 
Two sides of the same shield
 
The new SHIELD system is a compact, automatic ozonated water atomising sanitiser that neutralises virusus, bacteria and pathogens in the air and on surfaces in closed and open spaces.
 
Besides the in-office units, Dr Dhanani offers ozone oral rinse tumblers that his patients take home. The portable, rechargeable ozone flasks instantly convert tap water into ozonated water, a natural sanitiser effective at reducing oral germs and treating bad breath. 
 
“I normally give it to patients after treatment to help reduce bacterial load, support the healing process and improve treatment efficacy,” he adds.
 
“Patients tell me that their bad breath disappear almost overnight. Their mouth feels better than when they were using other mouth rinse products.”
 
You can’t buy trust
 
Dr Dhanani takes a sanguine view when it comes to investing in infection control.
 
“As long as it improves staff and patient care, I’m in,” he says.
 
“You can’t measure these things except for the peace of mind.”
 
It helps of course, that he trusts the technology and the people recommending it.
 
“When you already know the person and trust his opinion, there isn’t a need to research too much,” he qualifies.
 
“IMT’s phenomenal support and the great rapport I have with Paul, goes a long way towards earning that trust.”
 
Innovative Medical Technologies will be at ADX22 stand # 523
 
1. Sim M, Kim CS, Shon WJ, Lee YK, Choi EY, Shin DM.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):12130.

Vatech Green-16 assists “low biological cost” dentistry in Adelaide practice
 
By Danny Chan
 
Dr Roshanak Amrein is never more than two steps away from technology. Since graduating from Adelaide University in 2000, the private practitioner has not veered from her twin passions: Cosmetic dentistry and early adoption of dental technology.
 
Her downtown practice, Adelaide Cosmetic Dentistry, is located in the city’s trendy Hyde Park shopping precinct. It is known as much for its high-end boutique decor as it is for cutting edge cosmetic treatments, employing such tools as the Biolase Waterlase Laser Dentistry, CEREC CAD/CAM, Itero Scans and Invisalign Clear Braces, and the Vatech Green CBCT.
 
Underpinning these visible statements of a contemporary practice is a visceral patient care philosophy that seeks to minimise the biological cost for every treatment.
 
Dr Amrein makes no bones about the dominant role technology plays in her practice, and more specifically, how they coalesce to relegate invasive procedures to an absolute last resort.
 
“Though my clinic is focused on cosmetic rehabilitation, we look at the patient as a whole person,” she stresses.
 
“We look at their lifestyle, overall health and what solution is best for them in the long term.
 
“At the end of the day we want to find solutions for our patients. We wholeheartedly want to help them in whatever their enquiry is. I find technology helps us immensely in this regard.”
 
Sense of inclusion and ownership
 
The solution-finding journey typically starts with a consultation. Dr Amrein is exacting when it comes to treatment diagnostics and dentist-patient communication – areas in which her Vatech Green CBCT has been a godsend.
 
The imaging system was purchased from Dental Concepts, the Vatech distributor in SA that also designed and built Dr Amrein’s state-of-the-art practice. The dentist calls her decision to entrust Dental Concepts with the challenging project “the best thing that ever happened”.
 
“They say building a new clinic is a stressful exercise but not in this case. I knew the minute we made the decision that I was in safe and competent hands. Everything went according to plan and surpassed my expectations.
 
“They built me a dream practice with everything a girl wants on the wish list. Everyday was fun and joyful and I enjoyed every minute of the process. When they suggested Vatech I had no doubt that Jason and his team at Dental Concepts team had my best interest at heart. I had complete and utter trust in them and highly recommend them.”
 
The South Australian firm also installed the Green CT, incorporating x-ray imaging into the seamless dentist-patient communication process.
 
“My CBCT, panoramic and Lateral Ceph radiographs are essential in this process. I can educate my patients instantly about any existing pathology, limitations to treatment or urgent preventative work that may be needed and why specialist care may be absolutely essential,”  
 
“Patients love the process and respond to this level of thoroughness knowing they are part of the journey and gain a sense of ownership.”
 
She believes the patient’s sense of inclusion and taking ownership of their health, as a direct benefit of seeing the practitioner’s detailed and holistic approach to their care, is “priceless”.
 
No football please
 
Locating an imaging system in-house has also dramatically improved her customers’ visit experience.
 
“The fact that I don't have to football my very busy patients from one appointment to another,” she elaborates.
 
“Also I want my answers as soon as possible so we can start the treatment plans sooner rather than later when indicated.”
 
Referral communication with a specialist, she adds, has also been simplified by the ability to instantly send out the relevant images. “This makes the job of my colleagues much easier as they already have an overall picture of the patients’ oral health before even seeing them.”
 
Safety essentials
 
The x-ray machine first piqued the Adelaide dentist’s interest for its “easy-to-use demonstrable airway assessment function”, although she qualifies that “imaging alone is not a reliable way to assess airway health.”
 
The Green CT also fulfilled other buying objectives: ergonomic, safe unit at a competitive price point.
 
Owning the x-ray unit since 2020, she has been using it for panoramic, lateral ceph and CBCT imaging.
 
“We try to limit the imaging to only the field that is essential,” she explains.
 
“If needed there are radiologists who can report on images remotely and this service is also very useful if a patient consents to it.”
 
Obviously, patient comfort and safety is a top-of-mind issue at Adelaide Cosmetic Dentistry.
 
The Vatech machine’s flexibility of use to accommodate any possible disability or height variation, as well as low-dose radiation are major features for Dr Amrein.
 
Whether to maintain health and safety compliance or protect dentists and staff from routine radiation exposure, the Green CT competently allays these “paramount concerns”. 
 
While the imaging system has proven to be a smart business investment, Dr Amrein says operator and patient convenience, along with diagnostic accuracy, easily trump any ROI assessments.
 
“I need to do the right thing by the patient,” she insists. “This is far more important than financial considerations.”
 
Clear winner
 
The Green CT has been a unanimously prized addition to the practice, both from a clinical and patient perspective.
 
Customers have expressed amazement walking back from the imaging to the consultation room, to find their results waiting on the screen. The dentists, especially Dr Amrein’s orthodontic colleagues, have voiced their approval of the Green CT’s crisp and clear images – which she deems “much better” than what she gets from an external imaging centre.
 
What early adopter blues?
 
The practice building mileage Dr Amrein has gained from the Vatech Green CT, while comprehensive, is probably more a norm than exception.
 
This is after all an early adopter who started using CEREC technology some 20 years ago – back when dentists were still hesitant about its clinical expedience – as a fresh graduate, and who picked up laser dentistry while still a part-time solo practitioner with two young kids in tow.
 
“I have never regretted investing in technology,” she testifies.
 
“Technology has never let me down. It has always paid for itself and opened doors to doing dentistry without compromise.
 
“The key is to do your homework before buying anything and if I feel that it will be too costly or unsustainable, I hold off.”
 
“In the case of the Vatech unit, it was a no brainer.”