Download / Print as a PDF

Introduction

A good surgical laser for cutting soft tissue must be able to efficiently vaporize soft tissue, while at the same time efficiently coagulating surgical margins. Not all laser wavelengths are suitable to comply with both requirements.

How deep does the laser cut? How deep do different laser wavelengths and pulse settings coagulate? Different settings deliver different laser-tissue effects, which must be efficiently managed and controlled by properly trained and knowledgeable surgeons. This course focuses on the practical aspects of soft tissue laser surgery, as well as on the fundamental processes involved in the laser-tissue interaction and helps attendees learn how deep the laser beam cuts and how deep the coagulation and hemostasis extend into the surgical margins. Our hands-on participation lab is designed to be second to none in training attendees on what surgical lasers can do safely and efficiently.

Instructors

James Thomas, DDS, MS; and Peter Vitruk, PhD, MInstP, CPhys, DABLS

Tuition

ALSC Members: $595
Non-Members: $695
LightScalpel Users: $300 off – Email us to get your coupon code

Clinical Curriculum – Infant-Specific Laser Course

• Explore current methods of clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment of lingual, labial and buccal ties. Attendees will be able to:
  • Understand normal anatomy, physiology and developmental milestones for optimal oral function;
  • Use case-based diagnostic criteria to screen babies for oral tethers;
  • Understand the consequences and benefits of using lasers to remove oral restrictions;
• Attendees will also
  • See a vivid VIDEO and PHOTO filled didactic infant laser frenectomy course;
  • Have the option to tour health:latch in Bellevue, WA;
  • Learn how Dr. Thomas has bridged the gap in the interdisciplinary acceptance of oral tether treatments
• Dr. Thomas will go over the typical flow of clients and do tongue-tie exams on attendees: demonstrating the typical infant treatment position, discuss diagnosis, and equipment used. He will then explain laser safety measures and go over systems in place at his practice.
• Attendees will be given the option to tour Dr. Thomas’ office in Bellevue, WA, immediately following the workshop.
• Through participation in a hands-on workshop, the course attendees will learn to remove oral restrictions using soft- tissue lasers.

Laser Curriculum

• Demonstrate a wide range of didactic and clinical tools for the use of lasers in pediatric dentistry
• Present basic knowledge about Dental Lasers adhering to the established standards of education
• Instruct Dentists, Lactation Consultants, Speech and Language Therapists, and other allied health care providers to understand the efficient and safe application of laser energy in everyday practice
• Provide sound scientific basis and proven efficacy of use of lasers in Dentistry in order to ensure public safety

Laser Surgery and Safety Basic Knowledge Certification Curriculum for this Course has been developed by the American Laser Study Club (ALSC). The ALSC’s curriculum overcomes the known limitations of many laser dentistry courses, and includes the detailed physics of soft tissue ablation and coagulation with laser and hot tip (non-laser) devices. ALSC will provide lecture note handouts, ALSC online laser-tissue interaction knowledge exam, an option for online laser safety training and examination through the Laser Institute of America. Laser hands-on wetlab on tissue samples will include laser safety instructions and demonstrations.

Course Certificates

Course participants, who successfully complete examination, will be awarded a LASER SAFETY basic knowledge CERTIFICATE from the Board of Laser Safety of the Laser Institute of America (DISCOUNTED cost for the ALSC members), as well as a Laser Dentistry and Laser Surgery Basic Knowledge and Hands-On participation Wetlab CERTIFICATE from the American Laser Study Club (FREE for the course participants).

Agenda

Day 1: Clinical Didactic Material (6 hours):

• Infant’s Breastfeeding Anatomy & Function
• TOTs & Frenectomy
• Techniques & Best Practices
• Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Treating TOTs
• Why Wavelength Matters
• Light Absorption by the Soft Tissue and Hard Tissue
• Light Scattering
• Photo-Thermal Laser Tissue Interaction
• Thermal Relaxation Time

Day 2: Laser Didactic Material (3 hours):

• Tissue Ablation and Vaporization
• Ablation Threshold Fluence
• Ablation and Cutting Depth
• SuperPulse Cutting Depth
• Control Coagulation and Hemostasis

Hands-On Participation Session:

• Laser Safety
• Laser Surgical Technique Simulations
• Superficial Ablation
• Superficial Coagulation
• Shallow Incisions
• Deep Incisions
• Practicing Surgical Techniques on a Pig jaw

About the ALSC

The American Laser Study Club was founded by Peter Vitruk, PhD, MlnstP, CPhys to promote science-based laser dentistry, surgery and safety education. The ALSC is proud of its curriculum and its distinguished membership, including our honorary members Gordon J. Christensen, DDS, MSD, PhD and Rella P. Christensen, RDH, PhD, world renowned leaders in dental product research and education, who welcomed ALSC’s mission: “Peter, we congratulate you on starting a laser study club. It is greatly needed, and you are the man to do it.” Other Honorary Members of the ALSC are Charles M. Cobb, DDS, MS, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City and C. Kumar N. Patel, PhD, MS, the Inventor of the co, Laser; Recipient of National Medal of Science (1996); Member of US National Inventors Hall of Fame 2012; Professor Emeritus, UCLA. The ALSC is proud to have helped many dentists and surgeons.