The 600SE is described as a solid-state dental electro-surgery unit that features the ability to automatically adjust itself to compensate for varying resistance loads encountered at the operative site (thus the dubbing “Sensimatic”). It has a relatively compact form factor, measuring three inches high, six inches deep, and eleven inches wide. It fits nicely on my countertop, its broad stature creating a suitable perch for my digital camera. The clue is to have the unit within arm’s reach, 24/7, so that you never have to go fetch it. Placing it on a mobile cart will most likely leave it out of reach just when you need it.
The 600SE ships with all you need, including six autoclavable electrode tips and a “stick on” holding clip, as well as the ever necessary flexible indifferent plate and cable. (Don’t cut without this puppy tucked under your patient’s clothed shoulder.)
The Sensimatic’s sole purpose in its electronic life is to incise tissue, preferably with a coagulative effect. The manual states that you can do thirteen different things with it but they are really thirteen ways of saying, “remove excess, unwanted tissue.” For this the Sensimatic is perfectly conceived at an uncommonly low dental equipment price, given its overall usefulness ($650 with a three-month money back guarantee). Perhaps what I like most about the 600SE is its simplicity. It makes no attempt to confuse the user. Once one masters the “on-off” switch, there remain but two knobs to set—one controlling the unit’s overall power, and the other selecting its output mode.
Output refers to the Sensimatic’s high frequency wave forms. For the record, “E-surge” and “Radiosurgery” are one and the same. The latter term is more of a marketing semantic, but stems from the fact that dental E-surge units operate at frequencies ranging from 1.5 to 4.0 megaHertz. For instance, the Parkell Sensimatic operates at 2 Mhz, while another popular unit, Ellman’s Dento-surge 90, operates at 3.8 MHz. These are both radio frequencies that can be electronically manipulated (rectified) to effect three different applications in the Sensimatic. When the knob is turned to RF Mode 1, cutting will have little coagulation, most suitable when the incision will be sutured. (I don’t think I’ve ever used this setting.) Mode 2 cuts with balanced coagulation. My unit remains at this setting, with the exception of the times I seek to spot coagulate a bleeder using Mode 3, a partially rectified current. Clever design has assigned color-coded lights to indicate which mode is in use. Another “usage” light illuminates to let the user know that the pedal is engaged and the electrode “hot.” (This is helpful, as every now and then one will forget to turn it on before attempting to cut. Failure of the little red light to illuminate will cue your assistant to ask you to turn it on.)
My primary uses number two. Crown and bridge margin exposure, even in the presence of string, and anterior tissue recontouring during cosmetic rehab cases. For such purposes I leave my Sensimatic set on Mode 2 at a power of 7, and never look back. Cutting is precise and fast. As in the use of any cutting tool, practice makes perfect. Following a very short learning curve, the user will wonder how he or she ever got along without the Sensimatic 600SE. Given its ease of use, low cost, and compact form factor, purchase of this device is a no-brainer for those practitioners desiring convenient tissue management at an arm’s reach. Take note: while soft tissue diode lasers are upon us, their high cost and complexity create a considerable divide between the old and new technologies. At present, the E-surge’s chief drawback when comparing the technologies is the necessary avoidance of metallic structures, making it unwise to cut around implants.
Finally, while I encourage you to discover and/or rediscover the Sensimatic’s time-tested technology, I urge you to read the manual before using it. It’s a short read.
Review Synopsis
Product
Sensimatic 600SE Electrosurge
The Good
It's simplicity. It makes no attempt to confuse the user. The clever design has assigned color-coded lights to indicate which mode is in use.
The Bad
The necessary avoidance of metallic structures, making it unwise to cut around implants.
The Bottom Line
Given its ease of use, low cost, and compact form factor, purchase of this device is a no-brainer for those practitioners desiring convenient tissue management at an arm’s reach.