Set Aside the Erbium and Diode Dental Lasers for Solea

Solea is the first and only FDA cleared, all-tissue CO₂ dental laser on the market. Not long after its industry debut, practitioners previously using other technologies, such as erbium and diode lasers, realized they needed to trade them in for the technology that actually did what was promised. After experiencing Solea for themselves, the response was unanimous: this was the laser that finally allowed reliably anesthesia-free, blood-free, and pain-free dentistry to be delivered to patients.

Dr. Andrew Spector has performed laser dentistry with other dental lasers before adopting Solea. He can attest to the unmatched clinical superiority that can’t be found anywhere else. In "The Ways the Solea Dental Laser Impacts my Practice and my Workflow," Dr. Spector refers to Solea as a technology that "actually does what it says." He goes on to say, "Because of its unique properties, [Solea] has truly delivered on the promise made by so many laser manufacturers over so many years."

Erbium dental lasers operate at 2.7-2.9 µm, and diodes perform with a 0.81-0.94 µm wavelength. What separates Solea from these other technologies is its ability to operate at 9.3 µm. The distinct wavelength dispenses a "light tapping" of light, which is a result of reaching the peak level of absorption of hydroxyapatite. The "light tapping" is also significant because it enables Solea to transmit over a thousand pulses per second, vibrating the tissues and overwhelming the nerves: this is why procedures with Solea are reliably pain-free. The unmatched speed, precise cutting, and minimal bleeding are also effects of the wavelength and key differentiators of Solea vs erbium and diode lasers.

Similar to Dr. Spector, another practitioner who has performed dentistry using various dental lasers is Dr. Scott Pope. Eager to share his Solea experience, Dr. Pope discusses why it is his preferred technology in "Incorporating Laser Dentistry into Your Practice." From reinforcing how vital a role the wavelength plays in cutting all tissue types (enamel, dentin, bone, and soft tissue) to the facilitation of shorter treatment and healing times, it is evident that Solea has made an impact on his performance.

The versatility of an all-tissue laser that can deliver predictable, anesthesia-free dentistry and control bleeding greatly expands the scope of procedures offered to patients," says the practitioner. In respect to this benefit, Dr. Pope explains how Solea allows him to treat "a wide variety of situations efficiently and painlessly." Furthermore, when it comes to soft-tissue procedures specifically, such as fibroma removals, implant exposures, gingival recontouring, and more, the practitioner has long forgotten the diode laser and instead only uses Solea.

That said, Solea has not only attracted former erbium and diode users. It is also transforming dentistry for practitioners who are accustomed to the needle and drill, which Dr. Pope in the same article acknowledges as causing fear for patients. From efficiency, productivity, and time savings to new capabilities and an enriched experience for the practitioner and patient, Solea radically changes what it means to perform dentistry. In respect to expanding clinical capabilities and streamlining, as well as making procedures, such as caries removal and dental frenectomies more efficient and pleasant for patients, the Solea Dental Laser is the solution regardless if it is replacing traditional instruments or alternate dental lasers.

Below are two case studies provided by practitioners who have adopted the #1 selling dental laser and quickly recognized how it has revolutionized their procedures, workflow, and practice in general.

Case 1

Left: Tooth pre-op with deep decay. Right: Tooth immediately post-op after treatment with Solea.

Case 1 presents a clinical situation where Dr. Robert Feudo treated a patient with dental caries. The patient showed recurrent subgingival buccal decay on teeth #18 and #19. For this procedure, Dr. Feudo had to cut away enamel, as well as some of the soft tissue in order to effectively remove the caries for restoration. All he had to do was apply more pressure to the variable-speed foot pedal when working on enamel and then reduce the pressure for the soft tissue. If a diode laser was used here, the hard tissue portion wouldn’t have been able to be performed.

From start to finish, the caries removal was completed in 10 minutes. If done traditionally, this type of procedure would have easily taken approximately 40 minutes. The significant time savings can be attributed to how quickly Solea works. Dr. Feudo also associates it with the all-tissue laser’s ability to deliver reliably anesthesia-free dentistry, saying, "If I were to use traditional instrumentation, there would have been at least one injection given and then time spent waiting for the anesthetic to set in."

Not only does Dr. Feudo love what Solea has accomplished for his procedures, he also loves how it has created "surges" in patient compliance. Now, instead of having fear and anxiety, patients are excited to pay him a visit.

Case 2

Left: Class I tongue-tie pre-op. Right: 10 days post-op after treatment with Solea

Case 2 presents a dental frenectomy on an eight-day-old infant, provided by Dr. Joshua Weintraub. According to the practitioner, this is a clinical situation he never thought he would be able to handle in his practice, but Solea made it possible. If Dr. Weintraub had gone into this procedure with an erbium dental laser, there wouldn’t have been the same level of confidence and certainty.

Referred to him, the patient presented with excessively tight frenum ("tongue-tied"), which he identified as a Class I tie. Without the use of anesthesia—neither local nor injectable—he began the highly sensitive procedure. In total, it took less than one minute. During the frenectomy there was minimal blood, and afterwards post-operative healing was quick. Traditionally, there would have been bleeding with a lengthy healing process—two factors that are especially unfavorable for young patients.

Amazed by Solea’s performance in this case and others, Dr. Weintraub believes that it is not only the tool for easing adult patients, but it is also a safe way to treat pediatric patients reliably anesthesia-free.

It is one thing to read about the results from other practitioners whose clinical capabilities have transformed because of Solea, but it is another to experience it for yourself. Contact Convergent Dental today to add the Solea Dental Laser to your practice!