A peek behind the scenes at how DenMat's SOL Laser was developed

Earlier this year DenMat launched its SOL diode laser on the cover of Dental Products Report. Following the release, Product Manager Andrew Aradi shared some background about the product's development.

Q: What was the development process like for the SOL Laser?

A: We took a look at the market, our existing laser and what our competitors were doing and we put that into our plan. Then we worked on different industrial designs and ran them by dentists to find the best look that also fit the need. We narrowed down the choices and revised what we liked keeping in mind what was going in the laser.

Q: What has been the most enjoyable part of the creation process for you?

A: Involving the dentists. We put out a lot of prototypes and we would do ergonomic testing with the handpiece, and the most enjoyable part is having the dentists be a part of that process because you can have the designers saying one thing is going to work, but without the dentists validating that you can never be too sure.

Q: Is there a specific aspect of this product that you are particularly proud of?

A: First is the price-we’ve made it affordable for every office. Second is the blue aiming beam. Other diode lasers on the market use a red beam, but the SOL uses a blue beam that’s easier to see, especially when used in the periodontal pocket or cutting through blood. We tried different colors and it was unanimous, every person that evaluated it liked the blue beam.

Q: Have there been any changes to the product since its launch?

A: We’ve added a periodontal tip, which is thinner and longer. We got a lot of feedback from people wanting a thinner tip that would fit in your pocket and work better when treating periodontal disease. We also changed the name of one of the presets from “Sterile” to “Debride.” It made more sense to clearly label the preset for sulcular debridement procedures.

Q: How have users reacted to the laser?

A: The feedback has been fantastic. The blue beam is the first thing that sticks out; a lot of people recognize that it’s a unique feature that no one else has. Then the price. People are happy to pay $2,500 for a laser that would have cost them $10,000 just a few years ago.

Andrew Aradi of DenMat talks to DPR at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting about Denmat's newest laser, the SOL Portable Diode Laser.

DenMat's SOL Laser

An interview with Product Manager Andrew Aradi about developing the popular dental laser. SOL™ Manufactured by: DenMat  

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