92 Advertisement feature
www.dentistry.co.uk
Keeping it fresh and cutting edge
Dentist Mark Cronshaw, pioneer in the use of the Biolase Waterlase,
champions the all-tissue laser ‘the profession has been waiting for’
With the Biolase Waterlase, ‘the clinical results have proven to be outstanding’ says Dr Cronshaw
I first learned about the
Waterlase MD on the
internet and I was intrigued
to see first-hand this appar-
ently amazing machine.
The claims made by the
manufacturer seemed
scarcely credible as it was
billed as an all-tissue laser
with the ability to cut
cavities and treat decay
without local anaesthetic in
the majority of instances.
I travelled to the annual
meeting of the ADA in Las
Vegas in November 2006
and was sufficiently
impressed to order a unit
which duly arrived just
before Christmas of that
year.
At that time, mine was
one of the very first units in
the UK and I had to rely on
distance learning for
instruction on how to use
the unit. The Waterlase MD
had been is use in the States
since 2002 and, at that
time, there were around
3,500 users – so there was a
wealth of clinical experience
I could draw on.
The experience and
enthusiasm of our American
colleagues is tremendous
and, following my initial visit
to the USA, I have been
back time and again. As a
mature practitioner of 25
years, this year it has
enabled me to stay fresh,
motivated and very inter-
ested.
My clinical experience of
the laser was initially
confined to relatively simple
procedures such as gingivec-
tomy and cavity preparation.
I discovered that I could
indeed perform some proce-
dures without a local anaes-
thetic. However, it was a
slow business compared to a
conventional turbine and
there were still occasions
oped, and as I took further along with bone and
training, my clinical profi- connective tissue regenera-
ciency increased, and I tion treatments. Also I have
started to widen the range been taught the Annapolis
of the clinical procedures I method of laser assisted
was happy to offer. periodontal surgery which is
I discovered that osseous proving a very successful
crown lengthening can treatment modality for the
often be achieved without management of moderate
the need to raise a flap and to advanced periodontal
that the healing and tissue disease. As with all laser
recontouring was so treatments post operative
predictable and reliable that discomfort and sensitivity is
the definitive crowns or minimal in sharp contrast to
veneers could be placed the difficulties associated
without having to wait. with the conventional
approach. Again thanks to
Minimal discomfort the lasers mode of opera-
As a Cerec user, I took to tion these procedures are
both doing the osseous clean, simple and reliable
surgery and placing the and I have found myself
definitive crown all on the taking on a much expanded
same day with excellent range of effective treat-
results. Patients reported ments many of which are
little other than minimal historically the province of
discomfort, post-surgery, specialised practitioners.
and, for aesthetic and The response from my
cosmetic procedures patients has been over-
involving tissue recon- whelmingly positive and I
touring, the laser is easy to have found myself enjoying
use, reliable and predictable my dentistry more than ever
with outstanding clinical before. In my opinion the
results. Waterlase MD is the biggest
More recently, I have single advance in dentistry I
used the laser as an addi- have seen during the course
tional step in my endodon- of my career. My confident
tics as there are new special expectation is that within
radial firing tips which help the next decade the major-
debride and sterilise root tity of UK dentists will wish
canals. The clinical results to integrate the laser into
have proven to be their clinical practices. Over
outstanding and I frequently the next few issues I intend
see filled lateral canals on to present some treated
my post treatment radi- clinical cases looking at
ographs. In vitro research examples of laser assisted
demonstrates that the laser surgical extractions, crown
when I had to resort to disinfects the interior of a lengthening surgery, the
placing a local. root canal to a depth of Annapolis laser assisted
More recently a new 1mm which is 10 times periodontal surgery regime
handpiece has been intro- more effective than bleach and frenectomy. In the
duced which cuts as fast as alone. interim anyone interested in
an airotor and I am better I have recently returned learning more can view a
able now to use the laser from an advanced laser wealth of material including
rather than a drill for many assisted periodontal surgery some superb webinars on
more clinical procedures. course where I learned the manufacturers website,
As my experience devel- tissue grafting techniques www.Biolase.com.
Dr Mark Cronshaw B.Sc (Hons) BDS LDS RCS (Eng), MF Hom (Dent)
is a private practitioner in Cowes, Isle of Wight. He qualified from
Guys Hospital in 1984 and is a long-established and highly experi-
enced postgraduate trainer. Following his move into an exclusively
private practice in 2002, Dr Cronshaw has developed an interest in
high-tech dentistry, aesthetic and cosmetic dentistry, minimally
invasive techniques and holistic care. Having studied in the USA,
Mark is an approved trainer for Biolase and the World Class Laser
Institute. His practice in Cowes is a modern showcase for state-of-
the-art equipment, including the Cerec, digital imaging and video
microscopy. He is an active member of the BACD, and is a fellow of
the World Class Laser Institute.You can email him at macron5@hotmail.com.
For more information on the Waterlase MD, please visit www.henryschein.co.uk.