The Journal of the American Dental Association
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 139, No 10, 1303.
© 2008 American Dental Association
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lipsinic, F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Lipsinic, F.

LETTERS

ELECTROSURGERY

In Dr. Gordon Christensen’s July JADA observations, "Soft-Tissue Cutting With Laser Versus Electrosurgery" ( JADA 2008;139[7]:981–984[Free Full Text] ), he states that "electrosurgery is a controlled, precise application of heat." However, this is a misstatement that might confuse clinicians and patients alike.

Electrocautery, such as the System B Heat Source (SybronEndo, Orange, Calif.) or Touch n’ Heat (SybronEndo) units, do use a heated electrode tip. However, in contrast, radiosurgery is the application of high, radiofrequency energy by way of the electrode tip. When activated, this radiofrequency energy causes volatilization of the water molecules, not unlike a microwave oven, and thus volatilization of tissue cells surrounding the tip. Heat is merely a byproduct of the volatilization process. Thus there is a need to "rest" between short application strokes when using monopolar electrosurgery, in order for the body’s circulatory system to dissipate the heat.



Frank Lipsinic, DDS
Oklahoma City, Okla.



This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lipsinic, F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Lipsinic, F.

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS