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By Kristine Colker, Managing Editor n TODAY from 10 to 11 a.m. in aisle 5000, room 3, Dr. David Peck will present “Implementing Dental Lasers in the General Practice: A Real-World Report” as part of the DTSC Symposia. In his session, he will focus on lasers and dentistry. Lasers improve clinical results, open new treatment paradigms, simplify many common headaches and provide real, tangible return on the investment. Peck talked to today about what to expect from his symposium. Dr. Peck, you are presenting a DTSC Symposia session called “Implementing Dental Lasers in the General Practice: A Real-World Report.” Would you give us a brief overview of your session? The lecture encompasses the total generaldentalpracticeandtheimple- mentation of a dental laser on a daily basis. It is not used for one procedure or one type of patient but is integrated into the daily use in the dental office. It is an integral part of delivering world-class dentistry in a painless, comforting environment. How did you first begin using lasers in your own dental practice, and what is it about them that you like? Was there something in specific that made you want to try them? I first got certified in 2000 with the use of an NdYag laser at the Univer- sity of California at San Francisco and have never looked back. I have always liked being on the cutting edge and delivering the best quality of care for my patients. You talk a lot in your session about the advantages of using lasers — both clinical and financial. Could you give us a little insight into what some of those advantages would be? Clinical advantages are quick heal- ing and treating a condition in the moment, which provides benefits to dentist and patient. No longer is refer- ral to a specialist necessary to pro- vide the basic dental care in a general dental practice. The financial advantage is huge. As a general dentist, we must have many streams of income to provide for a financially profitable practice. By keeping procedures in-house, we achieve this and more. Patients love toremainwiththegeneraldentistand not go elsewhere. But remember, education and hands-on education is a must, and no short cuts qualify. The practice should see at least a 5:1 return on its investment. If someone is interested in starting to use lasers in his or her own practice, do you have any tips or advice for him or her? Just do it. No justifying or deliberat- ing. Look at the equipment as an investment in their dental practice financially and emotionally. And, as always, ask if the addition provides a higher level of care to our patients. If an attendee is interested in going to your session, is there anything he or she should be aware of ahead of time? Is your session aimed at specialists or is it more of a general topic? Beopenmindedandcometolearnand leave with a new sense of encourage- ment that there is so much dentistry sitting in their charts that they will have to do. The session is aimed at all dentists but specifically at general dentists. I am a general dentist who has chosen a journey of knowledge, passion and enthusiasm in my practice, and I have chosentosharethatinformationwith others. Your session is sponsored by Biolase. How did you begin working with the company and what is it that you like about its products and services? I started using a Biolase product, the iPlus, about one year ago. Because I had used lasers in my practice for the last 12 years, the company was interested in my opinion. Ihadresistedhard-tissuelasersfor years and had in my practice diode, medical grade CO2 and NdYAg lasers. I felt the addition of one laser uncom- plicated my life and made practicing easier. Ialsofoundthepresentcompanyto be ethical and true to its word. If there is one thing you hope attendees to your session come away with, what would it be? Dentistry is amazing and the success of a dental practice is all encompass- ing. We must master or bring in seg- ments to our practice that include clinical and practice management. It is not enough to become profi- cient with a piece of equipment, but then to know how to present to our patients. But as I tell everyone, what one dentist can do, so can another. Is there anything else you would like to add? Do not miss this lecture and take great notes. speakers8 Greater New York Dental Meeting — Nov. 28, 2012 Integrate lasers into your daily practice life AD About the speaker David I. Peck, DMD, graduated with honors from Northeastern University in Boston with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 1979. He continued on to graduatein1983fromtheUniversityof Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He completed his general practice residency at Danbury Hospital in Dan- bury, Conn., and regularly upgrades his expertise as a dentist by taking ad- vanceddentalcoursesattheLasVegas Institute. Peck was certified at the Uni- versityofCaliforniaatSanFranciscoin laser treatment for cosmetic soft tissue re-contouringandperiodontaltherapy. He specializes in a wide array of cosmetic dentistry procedures, includ- ing dental implants, crowns, dental veneers, bridgework, teeth whitening and composite bonding. ▲ ▲