Academy of Laser Dentistry

More documents

Recommendations

Info

J O U R N A L O F L A S E R D E N T I S T R Y | 2 011 V O L . 19 , N O . 3 300 C L I N I C A L E X P E R I E N C E Editor’s Note: This article describes off-label use of the Q1000 device, which has received U.S. FDA marketing clearance for providing temporary relief of pain associated with osteoarthritis of the hand which has been diagnosed by a physician or other licensed medical professional. A U T H O R B I O G R A P H Y Dr. Mel Burchman has maintained a private practice in Bucks County, Pennsylvania for 35 years. He has received ALD Standard Proficiency certification in Nd:YAG, diode, and Er:YAG laser wavelengths. He has received Associate Fellowship from the World Clinical Laser Institute (WCLI) in Er,Cr:YSGG. In addition, Dr. Burchman received Advanced Proficiency in Nd:YAG in 2001 and Burchman became an ALD Certified Laser Educator in 2005. In 2008, he received a Master in Laser Dentistry from ALD. Dr. Burchman may be contacted by e-mail at MEL712A@aol.com. Disclosure: Dr. Burchman has no commercial or financial interest relative to this presentation. R E F E R E N C E S 1. “Doctor, what’s this acupuncture all about?” A brief explanation. American Academy of Medical Acupuncture website. www.medicalacupuncture.org/acu_info /articles/aboutacupuncture.html. No date. Accessed February 5, 2012. 2. Dorland’s illustrated medical dictionary. 31st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2007:25. 3. Vargas JT. Low-level laser acupuncture. Med Accupunct 2005;16(2):38-41. 4. Begley S. Hooked on a feeling. This is your brain on a placebo. In Newsweek magazine. The Daily Beast website. May 20, 2009. www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/ 2009/05/20/hooked-on-a-feeling.html. Accessed February 5, 2012. 5. Begley S. Train your mind, change your brain: How a new science reveals our extraordinary potential to transform ourselves. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 2007. 6. Naeser MA. Some general information on painless, non-invasive, low-level laser acupuncture. Acupuncture.com website. www.acupuncture.com/education/ theory/laseracu.htm. No date. Accessed February 5, 2012. 7. Lytle L. Low level laser user’s manual. 1st ed. Portland, OR: Wowapi, Inc., 2003. nn
Signs of Change Raminta Mastis, DDS, FAGD, MALD, St. Clair Shores, Michigan J Laser Dent 2011;19(3):301-302 Raminta Mastis, DDS, Laser Safety Committee Chairwoman The proper display of signs is an essential element in implementing a successful laser safety program in the workplace. Since many lasers, when active, are invisible, they pose a potentially hazardous environment. Even small amounts of laser light can cause permanent eye injuries or skin burns. Signs serve an important function in identifying hazards, and in giving directions for appropriate precautions, warnings, and protection. The purpose of this article is to provide guidelines specified in ANSI Z136.1-2007 American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers for signs in order to properly warn people of the potential laser-related health hazards in your workplace. In a dental laser treatment setting there are two main types of signs: equipment labels and area warning signs. Equipment labeling is primarily the responsibility of the manufacturer. Dental lasers sold in the USA must achieve U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) marketing clearance, which includes the permanent affixing of various warning and information labels on the laser equipment itself. The operator and Laser Safety Officer (LSO) should be aware of these and understand their meanings. These labels identify protective features and potential hazards if the laser is tampered with. Equipment labels also identify the class of laser and degree of hazards. The LSO should inspect these labels to assure that they are intact, legible, securely affixed, and document such inspections in a logbook or an annual checklist. If a label becomes illegible or comes off, the manufacturer should be contacted for a replacement label. Since area warning signs are used to indicate a change of environment, they demand more daily attention in order to serve the purpose of safety. Area warning signs are the responsibility of the LSO and/or the delegated team members. The appropriate uses for these signs of change are addressed in ANSI 136.1-2007, Section 4.7. Area warning signs are used to control areas where lasers are being used. In general, signs for Class 2 and 2M lasers will have the signal word “Caution,” and will typically be yellow. Signs for Class 3R, 3B, and 4 lasers will use the signal word “Danger,” and will be in red. Most manufacturers provide a preprinted warning sign with the pertinent information (type of laser, emitted wavelength, pulse duration, maximum output, laser class, and special precautionary instructions and protective actions) for use by the operator. Additional signs can be requested from the manufacturer, photocopied, or downloaded from the Internet (paper copy, which you may want to laminate), or purchased from various companies or Web sites that offer laser safety signs (usually plastic), such as Laser Institute of America (www.lia.org). The regulations require that these area warning signs be conspicuously displayed before the entry into the controlled area, which is determined by the specific laser’s Nominal Hazard Zone (NHZ). The regulations also require L A S E R S A F E T Y that these signs be covered or removed when the laser is effectively taken out of operation (which should be interpreted as laser shutdown and not just placed in standby mode). Most dental lasers are designed to be portable, meaning that they can be used in several treatment areas throughout the day. If the laser is moved to different locations (i.e., multiple treatment areas), the signs should be changed to clearly indicate where and when a laser is in use in order to appropriately warn at all entries into the NHZ. Accidents happen, often when they are least expected. A trained and experienced skydiver is more likely to sprain his ankle by tripping on a rug or a stair in his own home than from jumping from a perfectly good airplane over a mile off the ground, while being suspended by a strip of fabric (parachute). The same analogy can be applied in the dental office. Be prepared for the unexpected. Be alert to your environment. Be aware of the stray traffic near the NHZ. Traffic control within hazard zones should be managed with clear and standard operating procedures. It is the responsibility of the staff to manage stray traffic (such as a concerned parent “peeking in”). The staff should also be trained to recognize that interruptions for “just a quick question” are inappropriate during laser procedures. It is recommended that other forms of inter-office communications, such as text-messaging systems, be included in the standard operating procedures. In addition to the appropriate display of Caution and Danger signs, there is a third type of sign defined by ANSI to identify a Temporary Laser Controlled Area. Mastis J O U R N A L O F L A S E R D E N T I S T R Y | 2 011 V O L . 19 , N O . 3 301
Page 1:
Lightwaves News Featured in a Speci
Page 5 and 6: Journal of Laser Dentistry: Guideli
Page 7 and 8: Editorial Policy The Journal of Las
Page 9 and 10: Approaching ALD Prime J Laser Dent
Page 11 and 12: consensus is a talent. I’m happy
Page 13 and 14: P R E S I D E N T- E L E C T : Dr.
Page 15 and 16: Certification Committee. He holds A
Page 17 and 18: For The T.H. Maiman Award for Excel
Page 19 and 20: estorative cases with us. We finish
Page 21 and 22: A Helping Hand Glenda Payas, DMD, T
Page 23 and 24: DDo o M MMore ore wwith i ith Wa WW
Page 25 and 26: the periimplant soft tissues withou
Page 27 and 28: exposure, membrane exposure, and th
Page 29 and 30: surgical treatment of peri-implanti
Page 31 and 32: and thus can be effectively utilize
Page 33 and 34: Figure 13: Immediate postoperative
Page 35 and 36: 23. Matsuyama T, Aoki A, Oda S, Yon
Page 37 and 38: C A S E R E P O R T S Advantages of
Page 39 and 40: was kept in constant motion. Care w
Page 41 and 42: Figure 2: Preoperative full-smile v
Page 43 and 44: C L I N I C A L R E V I E W A N D C
Page 45 and 46: prevent the sores will have conside
Page 47 and 48: and bone neoformation when compared
Page 49 and 50: C A S E S T U DY : N E U R O PAT H
Page 51 and 52: C L I N I C A L E X P E R I E N C E
Page 53: Gallbladder #20 as soon as he was s
Page 57 and 58: In their articles on the adjunctive
Page 59 and 60: A N T I M I C R O B I A L E F F I C
Page 61 and 62: Background and Objective: The aim o
Page 64: ® Dual Wavelength, Er:YAG & Nd:YAG
show all

Academy of Laser Dentistry

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?