Lasering away the dental debris

Following his instinct for new technology and the advice of his dental mentor, Woodmere-based Dr. John Santolpolo is the first U.S. endodontist to purchase the latest laser device designed for dental work.

“My mentor said everyone needs a new toy,” Dr. Santopolo said in his Franklin Place office as he demonstrated what the laser could do.

His mentor, Dr. Gene Schlagel, would look fondly at this new toy, which is the latest in technology for endodontics and overall, dentistry, and Dr. Santopolo jumped in feet first by attending a course for the new YAP laser at a Manhattan hotel.

He was the only one of five dental professionals to buy one. Dr. Santopolo noted that the nearly $60,000 price tag could expensive, but the benefits for his work are priceless.

“It allows me to cut away posts, loosen broken instruments and melt away fillings,” said Dr. Santopolo, who as an endodontist treats patients with problem root canals and has to re-do and repair previously done work.

However, being first is not always easy. Despite having at least three days training on the YAP laser, courtesy of Claremont Medical, a company based in France that has its U.S.-based office in Philadelphia, Dr. Santopolo still needed to confer with colleagues who use the machine.

“I was talking to Europeans to learn,” he said noting that he spoke to a fellow dental professional in Belgium and it’s great that the Internet can translate languages as most of what’s written about the laser is in French.

Currently, there are 1,500 of these in 27 countries worldwide, according to Blandine Chantepie, the U.S. representative for Claremont Medical, who is based in Philadelphia.

What makes her company’s product unique is that unlike non-contact C02 lasers, the YAP fiber laser allows for greater maneuverability. “In a root canal you can’t see and you need to see,” Chantepie said. “The light and the fiber helps you get whatever you want even if it’s not straight forward. The flexible tips helps with angles.”

Hewlett-based dentist Dr. Ron Kaminer, who has practiced for the past 20 years and lectured on laser use for the past decade, pushed Dr. Santopolo to get the YAP laser.

“The advantage of the laser is it also helps to kill bacteria as well remove fragments,” said Dr. Kaminer, who recently lectured in Dubai. “The laser vaporizes the metal, cleans out the canals better and sterilizes. It is quicker, easier and better.”

In practice for nearly 30 years, Dr. Santopolo, a Hewlett resident, opened a second office in Merrick in 2007. He is on staff of Peninsula General Hospital and currently serves on the board of the Nassau County Dental Society. Besides his professional services, he also serves as president of the Woodmere Merchants Association.

“So far it’s been a lot of fun,” he said about his new toy.