Comparing CO₂ Dental Lasers Side-By-Side – Less vs More

Are you thinking about adding a CO₂ dental laser to your practice? Making the best decision for your practice can be overwhelming. To help make it easy for you, we have created an easy-to-read infographic that compares two leading dental CO₂ lasers side by side. This infographic compares the lasers’ handpiece and delivery systems, tip-to-tissue distance, aiming beam, eye protection, water spray, the laser’s footprint, weight, and list prices. It is pretty easy to see that the LightScalpel CO₂ laser has many advantages over the competition, but don’t just take our word for it, request a free no-hassle, no-commitment test drive in your office.

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Hollow Waveguide Laser Delivery System

LightScalpel hollow waveguide lasers (commonly called flexible fiber) deliver the laser beam through a thin, flexible, hollow waveguide. The LightScalpel’s laser beam exits through pen-like handpieces. The beam is focused 2 mm (0.08 inches) away from the tip of the handpiece. Because the handpiece is held so close to the target tissue, an aiming beam is not necessary.^[1]

Articulated Arm Laser Delivery System

Competitor’s articulated arm (AA) lasers deliver a laser beam through a sophisticated series of metal tubes containing elbows, mirrors, and a counterweight. Its laser beam is focused 20+ mm away from the tip of the handpiece.^[2] Because the laser handpiece must be held a significant distance from the target tissue for the beam to focus, these devices require a visible aiming beam.^[3]

Laser Beam Aiming Accuracy

Due to the close proximity of LightScalpel handpieces to the target tissue they provide excellent precision. LightScalpel handpieces are aimed at a distance of 2 mm, allowing the operator to have maximum stability by resting their hand with the handpiece directly on the patient. LightScalpel laser handpieces’ short distance to tissue is especially important when working in tight areas or in unsteady patients where undesired parts of the patient could accidentally intersect the laser beam. One procedure, for example, where is this very important is in infant tongue- or lip-tie releases (frenectomy). AA delivery handpieces are held 20+ mm from the target soft-tissue, which results in less precision and requires a visible aiming beam. Aiming beams discolor the target tissue and most often greatly exceed the diameter of the laser beam. AA soft-tissue lasers are effective for gross dissection, but not for procedures requiring precision.

Laser Beam Safety

Because of the LightScalpel handpieces’ wider angle of divergence and the shorter distance to defocus the laser beam, the danger zone for injury (nominal hazard zone) is relatively short. AA handpieces have a narrower angle of divergence causing the laser beam to maintain a higher power density for a longer distance. The nominal hazard zone is much longer with AA devices.

Conclusion

So which laser system is right for your office? When comparing side-by-side you have seen that the LightScalpel offers the best ergonomic delivery system, handpieces, and offers features and advantages that the other manufacturers simply can’t match.

References

1. “Soft-Tissue Laser Surgery – CO₂ Surgical Laser – LightScalpel”. LightScalpel. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
2. Fantarella D, Kotlow L (2014). “The 9.3-µm CO2 Dental Laser: Technical Development and Early Clinical Experiences”. Journal of Laser Dentistry. 22 (1): 10-27.
3. Godbold JC (2011). “CO₂ Laser Surgery: Selecting the Best Delivery System”. Veterinary Practice News.