Minimally Invasive Laser Dentistry: The New Standard of Care

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Minimally Invasive Laser Dentistry: The New Standard of Care

By Dr. Helen Ragsdale

I always wanted to be progressive. My general practice is focused on periodontics, and I believe in a philosophy of minimally invasive dentistry. When I started researching lasers, BIOLASE was the clear leader in the field, and I made my first laser purchase. I can proudly say I was one of the first dentists in the area to use state-of-the-art hard-tissue lasers.

I currently own two Waterlase iPlus lasers and three Epic X diode lasers. I use my lasers daily for several dental procedures including restorative, crown lengthening, frenectomies, lesion removal, and of course, periodontal treatment. We use the Epic lasers for pain therapy and teeth whitening, which my patients love!

Happy Patients, Positive ROI

Being a perio-focused practice, it’s no surprise that periodontal treatment is by far the most requested laser-assisted procedure by new patients, followed by laser-assisted teeth whitening. My current client base has come to expect laser-assisted procedures, at least in adjunction to most of their treatments.

Patients are especially happy not having to seek additional treatments outside of my practice. This serves a huge benefit for them keeping us as their primary dental provider, and for my practice ROI. We even have patients who specifically come to our office just for laser treatments!

From the beginning, laser adoption for my patients was seamless. My patients were happy to try alternative treatment options and were stoked about how little to no anesthesia was required for most procedures. Some of my long-term patients sought out more laser-assisted procedures and were not disappointed. They often rave about how little or no pain they encountered during and after the procedure. For my periodontal patients, the healing process and post-op outcomes after laser treatment have been the biggest “WOW” factor for me and my patients – the results are night and day in comparison to traditional methods.

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Marketing Matters

The majority of our patient referrals come from my current patients and our digital marketing. We have fully invested in our technology and have portrayed that innovative vision through our website, Austin Laser Dentist, and our social media presence where we focus on the patient experience.

I have branded my practice with our BIOLASE lasers and the benefits of laser dentistry for all our services. It’s my brand and a big driving factor to attract new patients. I understood early on that dental laser marketing would make the biggest difference in ROI and patient retention. It’s not only what BIOLASE technology can do for me, it’s how I use BIOLASE technology – it has done everything for my practice. The versatility of our Waterlase lasers has allowed us to create a market for my patient’s dental needs.

Making a Difference

I recall one of my patients who suffered from dentophobia (fear of the dentist) with severe periodontal disease. To help ease his fear and anxiety we agreed to only treat half of his mouth with the Waterlase. He agreed to return for the other half, and we would document the before and after result. Our patient was so shocked at the results that he was back the next day to complete his treatment. The results were a “miracle” in his mind and were jaw-dropping when we uploaded the before and after image on our website. To our surprise, the image went viral! To this day, that before and after picture still brings in the most traffic to our website and patient calls asking about laser-assisted periodontal treatment.

When it comes to staff adoption, the result was equally positive. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to train our new hires and they too are happy about quicker procedures, single-visit treatments, and happy patients coming back time and time again. Overall, we have built a very patient-centered practice and culture when it comes to our team dynamic and how we prioritize our patients.

Our dental technology has put us on the map by offering the best possible dental care. When you combine that technology with education, communication, and genuine care for patient’s oral health and well-being, you know you have truly met the “New Standard of Care” that BIOLASE and its clinicians offer.

Ready to be part of the dental laser revolution?

BIOLASE is offering select dentists an obligation-free opportunity to integrate minimally invasive Waterlase laser technology into your practice. Visit the Waterlase Exclusive Trial Program to learn more!

Hands down the best Dentist I have ever been to! She was recommended to me by a friend/coworker and I think our entire office + our families became patients! She and her entire team are legit amazzzzzing and so nice! All I will say is I finally had cavities and they were all taken care of in one sitting without any anesthesia or numbing stuff thanks to Laser Dentistry Technology & Helen’s Fabulous TALENT!

Thanks to awesome Laser Dentistry Technology and Helen’s talent- I was able to have all my cavities filled in ONE Sitting, and WITHOUT ANY ANESTHETICS!

Dr. Ragsdale is meticulous, super knowledgeable and never tries to make me feel pressured into any unnecessary work. I had a filling replaced (from a previous dentist) and she used the laser and I felt absolutely nothing! Her entire team is ALWAYS so warm and welcoming. I HIGHLY recommend her to anyone looking for a new dentist.

The staff and Dr. Ragsdale are always incredibly understanding and accommodating to me and my needs. I have a myriad of chronic illness/disorders that make even a simple cleaning a thing of worry but they listen to my concerns and try their best to prevent any complications. They are also incredibly polite with a very friendly staff and front desk. Laser dentistry is the way of the future!

About Helen Ragsdale, DDS

Doctor Helen Ragsdale has been practicing dentistry in Austin for over 20 years, and is known as Austin’s gentle dentist. She graduated from University of Texas Austin with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Biology, and went on to earn her Doctorate in Dentistry from The University of Texas Health Science Center is San Antonio. Dr. Ragsdale is a recognized local expert in clinical application of dental lasers. Dr. Ragsdale believes in excellence through education. Her post-graduate level training includes separate preceptorships at the University of Texas for Periodontal Surgery and Dental Implantology. She studied aesthetics at LVI She is a current ICOI Fellowship: The International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI) – Dental Implants”.

To learn more about Dr. Ragsdale and her practice, visit austinlaserdentist.com.

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