DPS readers agree that the Waterlase all-tissue dental laser is a foolproof way to grow and future-proof your dental practice
You wouldn't flip through your Rolodex to make an important call or wait for a fax machine to deliver critical documents. Likewise, for the majority of his dental procedures, Mason Miner, DDS, wouldn't dream of picking up a drill or a needle.
“When I first got the Waterlase, I was mostly doing fillings and some easy gingivectomies,” said Dr. Miner, who owns Durango Laser Dentistry. “But now, I use it for everything—even something as simple as zapping a cold sore—and 90% to 95% of the time, we don't need to numb the patient."
Start Small, Grow Big
The Waterlase iPlus features a modular software design that lets clinicians focus on the applications that match their practice needs. Even for those just starting out in Soft Tissue mode, just 1 to 2 Waterlase procedures a week can pay off the laser. As abilities grow, modules for Endo, Restorative, Perio, and Skin Resurfacing can be added to expand treatment.
“It's just so versatile because you could be doing a filling down in the gumline and if the gum starts bleeding, you can change the setting and stop it without needing to get up and grab another instrument,” explained Dr. Miner. “For a general dentist, the Waterlase is great for those bread-and-butter fillings, but it’s nice to expand into perio treatment and higher-dollar procedures. We do a lot of gingival flaps and osseous contouring, and it’s so handy to just change the setting and go from soft-tissue contouring to cutting bone.”
Waterlase’s proprietary Er,Cr:YSGG 2,780-nm wavelength has optimal absorption in both water and hydroxyapatite for cool and efficient cutting in both hard and soft tissue. For patients, that translates into accelerated healing with less postop discomfort or dentin hypersensitivity.
“Patients tell us that the procedure either didn’t hurt or felt very quick, and that they had less soreness afterward,” Dr. Miner said. “The results are better, too. In dental school, we were told you can't grow bone back once it's lost to gum disease, but with the laser, you can see the bone creep back up the tooth over time.”
An Easy Practice-Builder
Dr. Miner's practice often sees new patients simply because they're using the latest technology. “I also have people come in who are specifically looking for a laser dentist, and they may have an issue going on that they want addressed with the laser,” he added. “Patients also refer their friends or family members who want that same ‘no shot, no drill’ experience.”
Through Waterlase Academy, practices can explore introductory trial programs, basic and advanced courses, webinars, and in-office training. “BIOLASE is a good company and they're there to help doctors along the way,” said Dr. Miner. “This is such a versatile and powerful laser.”
