Make it Pay: Lasers (Part 1) - DentalProductsReport.com

HOME OF DENTAL PRODUCTS REPORT • DENTAL LAB PRODUCTS • MODERN HYGIENIST

Login

Facebook Twitter

Printer Friendly

Email Article

New Articles

Printer Friendly

Email Article

The money makers

Once you’re comfortable with your laser, there are a variety of procedures you can perform faster and better.

Many of these procedures take very little time, and can even be suggested to patients after they’re done with a cleaning. This adds services to your day that weren’t scheduled, services you can complete in-between patients.

“We want to make sure we maximize production and chairtime when we have a patient in the chair,” Dr. Rosenberg said.

“If a patient is there for one procedure, there’s likely five or six other procedures we can do on the patient, rather than ignore or refer out and make the specialists rich. Lasers give us a bigger bag of tricks, a wider array of procedures you can confidently perform to increase your ability to be more productive.”

Here’s a rundown of some of the procedures Dr. Rosenberg said can bring more money into your practice.

Class VI incisal edge lesions
Laser assisted extractions and bone grafts
Laser assisted periodontal therapy
Hard- and soft-tissue crown lengthening
Biopsies and excision of lesions or the oral mucosa
Frenectomies
Saving failing implants
Treating ulcers of all types, including apthous, herpetic and denture sores
Gummy smile reduction and reverse vestibuloplasties
Esthetic tissue grafts to cover exposed root surfaces

Start slow
Remember there is a laser learning curve, and you really should start out with easy cases, Dr. Hewlett said. These cases will lead to more successes, giving you and your staff members the confidence to move on to more complicated procedures.

It’s also important to realize you can’t use a laser for every procedure, Dr. Hewlett said. There will be times when another tool is your best option, and insisting to use a laser will only lead to frustration.

Knowing when to use your laser and developing the skills you need to move on to more complicated procedures again comes down to education and a little bit of patience.

“The most common mistake is lack of education,” Dr. Hewlett said. “If you don’t have education and don’t use lasers for procedures they really can do, you might only use the technology for easy procedures and you never get passed that. You might never get to the amazing things lasers can do to increase the effectiveness of your care. Getting through the learning curve is important. If you don’t struggle through that learning curve, you really won’t use any technology to its fullest. It’s frustrating at first but once you get there the benefits are great for you and the patients.”

It’s not just about money
Sure, when you’re a laser dentist you attract more patients to your office. You free up time to take on more cases during the day, and you’re able to adjust your fees to reflect the technology you now offer.
But laser dentistry isn’t just about the financial benefits, Dr. Hewlett said. Part of your return on investment is the peace of mind it brings knowing you did the very best you could for your patients today.

And that peace of mind will lead to the practice growth you envisioned when you decided it was time to add lasers to your practice.

Click here for additional recommendations from Dr. Rosenberg.