Size and Weight
The SoftLase Pro’s dimensions are 4.0" × 6.9" ×
7.0" and it weighs 3.0 pounds. The 8 dentists who
evaluated the laser were asked to rate its size and
weight. Five evaluators rated the size as excellent, 2
rated it as very good to good, and 1 rated it as fair.
With regard to weight, 4 rated the laser as excellent,
3 rated it as very good to good, and 1 rated it as fair.
One evaluator said the SoftLase Pro is “light and
easy to move between operatories if you don’t have
one in each room.” Another evaluator described the
size as “not too big as to demand an awkward footprint
or position in the operatory, and not so small
as to be ineffective and constantly being knocked
over…just right.”
Portability
After being asked to rate the size and weight of
the SoftLase Pro, the evaluators were asked to rate
the laser’s portability. Five evaluators rated portability
as excellent, 2 rated it as very good, and 1 rated
it as good. One evaluator said that there are “no limits,
as long as you have a 110 V plug in.” Another
evaluator said that the “excellent [portability] goes
along with the light weight, allowing the dentist to
have it available in the operatory [in which] he or she
is working.”
Ease of Use
The SoftLase Pro has 8 preprogrammed settings
that can be accessed by pushing a button. A specific
procedure can be accessed through the touch screen.
Voice confirmation lets the user know which selection
he or she has made. A color display then
shows the user a thumbnail picture of
the procedure to again confirm the correct
procedure has been selected. After
the final procedure choice has been
made, the laser’s main screen displays
the correct settings so that specific applications
can be selected.
When the evaluators were asked to
rate the ease of use of the SoftLase Pro,
4 rated it as excellent, 2 rated it as very
good, and 2 rated it as good. One evaluator
said, “The SoftLase Pro is very
easy to use, with a very clear and simple
user interface.” Another evaluator said,
“I wish the field didn’t have to be bone
dry for it to initiate a cut.” However, the
manufacturer states that a dry field is
not required if the fiber is carbonized
before performing a procedure. A third
evaluator said, “The SoftLase touch
screen allows me to easily set the laser to
the exact procedure I will perform.”
Cutting Tissue with Minimal Damage
The 8 evaluators were asked to rate
the SoftLase Pro on its ability to cut tissue
with minimal damage. Seven rated it
as excellent and 1 rated it as good. One
evaluator commented that “the ability
to adjust the power creates a situation
where the dentist can ‘fine-tune’ the
laser for the exact procedure and patient
to promote better results with very little,
if any, tissue damage.” Another evaluator
said that he is “very happy with its
atraumatic cutting ability.”
Overall Satisfaction
When the evaluators were asked if
they would recommend the SoftLase
Pro to their colleagues, all 8 said definitely.
Six said they would definitely
purchase the laser in the future and 2
said probably. When asked to give their
overall satisfaction rating for the
SoftLase Pro, 6 rated it as excellent and
2 rated it as very good. One evaluator
said, “I utilize the Zap laser all the
time. My staff is very adept at integrating
it into a busy workflow.” Another
evaluator said, “All aspects of my daily
work have benefitted from the wide
spectrum of applications [of the
SoftLase Pro]—from perio to general
restorative to prosthodontics to orthodontics.
Simply amazing how I ever did
without it.”
The new SoftLase Pro features SoftTouch technology allowing the user to easily select from 8 of the most commonly used procedures with just a simple touch.
Tissue exposure for impression can be performed in seconds without bleeding and tissue recession. In addition, the SoftLase Pro provides a specially designed fiber lid to store the optical fiber and hand piece. Other features include audible voice confirmation and a diode laser performance control.
