Breakthrough Technology for Dentistry

Expand your services

The time Solea gives back to clinicians – whether it’s taking a few extra minutes to talk with a patient about a procedure or fitting more appointments into the schedule – lets them build and strengthen their practices in myriad ways. Soon after integrating the laser into his practice, Dr. Rohde realized that the combination of increased efficiency and improved tissue management meant that he could get more out of his other technology investments. “We had more bodies in seats, things got done faster and our scans were better, so our CAD/CAM production went up,” he explained.

Fittingly, Solea all-tissue dental laser also offers an opportunity to add novel services to the mix. “You can choose to do traditional fillings and anything else you normally do, and Solea will make it better and faster, or you can go further because now you have the right tool,” said Yooson Kim, DMD, a Morgantown, Pennsylvania, family dentist and certified Solea trainer who has used the laser for 10 years. Dr. Rohde echoed this, stating, “There’s a misconception that Solea is exclusively a cavity machine, but it does so much more – the potential for a practice to expand into different types of procedures is huge.”

Solea’s versatility empowers dentists to provide a range of high-value treatments, from gingivectomies and frenectomies to flapless crown lengthening, peri-implant procedures and more. It’s also worth noting that Convergent Dental is continually developing new applications for Solea. Several years ago, the company introduced Solea Sleep, a painless, nonsurgical procedure that provides immediate relief from snoring after a 5-minute treatment with no recovery time. Likewise, in 2023, Convergent unveiled Solea Protect, which leverages the laser’s 9.3-µm wavelength to effectively inhibit caries development and mineral loss and strengthen enamel against acid and decay. “Solea provides a platform that regularly allows me to do things that I couldn’t before, all with the same laser,” Dr. Rohde said. “The technology grows with you – you can do more with it as you add to your practice.” 

Solea provides next level comfort and convenience

While taking numbness, noise and vibration out of the equation makes Solea all-tissue dental laser, as Dr. Kim calls it, “a no-brainer” for pediatric care, it ultimately benefits patients of all ages. Dental anxiety is estimated to affect around half of the population and is often inspired by a previous traumatic experience in the chair. Subsequently, by removing the prospect of pain and discomfort, “Right off the bat, Solea helps reduce patients’ anxiety and build their confidence and trust in you,” Dr. Kim said. “And once they’ve experienced that level of care and service, it’s hard to go back – patients don’t want to receive treatment any other way.”

In Dr. Kim’s experience, Solea serves as a significant driver of both patient retention and acquisition. Several of her patients have moved out of town – and even out of state – only to return to her office for Solea treatment. She likewise shared that it’s not uncommon to convert parents to patients when they see how easy it is for their kids. Dr. Kim also has seen many instances where a positive experience translates to a word-of-mouth referral, explaining, “Solea effectively markets itself, because when patients have that unique experience, they’ll talk about it.”

Dr. Rohde affirmed that Solea all-tissue laser aligns with patient preferences, especially given that it lets clinicians do more dentistry in-house. In addition to removing the time and hassle of traveling to another provider, this minimizes another major source of anxiety for patients: the unknown. “People want to stay where they’re comfortable, where they know the team and what they’ll be getting,” Dr. Rohde explained. “It creates a different patient experience when you can eliminate some of the scariest parts of dentistry.” He added that Solea can motivate patients to accept treatment on the spot. “If you say, ‘This surgery will take 4 minutes and it will heal in days, not weeks,’ usually their next question will be, ‘Can we do this today?’”

Dr. Kim also underlined the importance of embracing innovation, as any technology that allows a clinician to bring more value to their patients – be it low-dose digital imaging, CAD/CAM or laser dentistry – is well worth adopting. “You can still do things the same way you did 20 years ago, and that’s perfectly fine,” said Dr. Kim. “But if you can utilize a different tool that makes your life and your patient’s life easier and better, why wouldn’t you?”

From elevating patient experiences and the quality of the work to increasing case acceptance and production, as Dr. Kim said, “Solea does everything that technology should do for your practice.”

This article was originally published in the Fall 2024 Advantage Magazine. 

See success with Solea education and support

As one of the original Solea all-tissue dental laser users, Dr. Rohde can attest that the platform has only gotten better with time. Today, going from novice to pro with the laser is perhaps “the easiest learning curve in dentistry,” said Dr. Rohde. After a one-day, comprehensive training session conducted by a Solea trainer, dentists will be capable and comfortable using the Solea laser. Convergent Dental offers a wealth of additional resources to ensure practitioners see success throughout their journeys. Field service engineers ensure smooth, stress-free integration and ongoing problem resolution, while clinical coaches guide users through their first set of procedures. In addition, Convergent customers are paired with a Solea success manager to keep them apprised of the latest developments and best practices in laser dentistry. Solea users gain access to a vast library of online resources, including training materials, case studies and discussion boards. And every user is invited to join Solea Nation – a collaborative, peer community in which dental professionals can share knowledge and elevate their skills together, both online and in person at the annual Solea Summit.