Blog
Legal Notice
clinician spotlight
An Inside Look: A Clinician’s Experience with the Waterlase Exclusive Trial Program
By Dr. Shannon Chris
Taking The Leap
Over the years of practicing, I heard a lot about dental lasers and its benefits for practitioners as well as patient care. About three years ago, I decided to start doing serious research of my own which included a lot of reading from recognized dentistry sources, clinical articles, testimonials, videos and referrals from friends and colleagues.
One night, while browsing through my social media, I came across an intriguing post on my feed – the Waterlase Exclusive Trial Program – a 45-day in-office trial with the Waterlase all-tissue dental laser. After years of research, here was the opportunity to try an all-tissue dental laser firsthand, and I thought, “why not”. I could see it for myself, determine if and how it would make me a better clinician, and answer the most important questions – would it truly benefit my patients, and could I see better patient outcomes?
The Exclusive Trial Program
The first phase of my Waterlase Exclusive Trial launched with a two-day training with a small group of participating dentists in the area. The training took place in San Francisco, CA where we learned more about laser physics, safety, and hands-on workshops.
The training was fun, educational, and very well-organized. The instructors were well experienced and there was a lot of hands-on experience. Since it was a small group of peers, the instructors provided a lot of personal attention, detailed instructions, and one-on-ones with the attendees.
Contact Us to Learn More
As my 45-day trial kicked off, each day got better than the previous. We were learning something new every day and were given step-by-step laser-assisted procedure instructions by our Waterlase clinician. By the second week, I could not see myself doing my class V restorations or soft-tissue manipulation without my Waterlase. I could not even consider ever doing crown lengthening without my laser!
The Patient Experience
Once I started introducing laser dentistry to my patients and incorporating Waterlase into more procedures, it became second nature. Many of my patients were excited to try it because of the benefits we discussed and even the ones that were a bit hesitant were open to the idea if it meant less pain, less invasive procedures, and better results for them.
There’s one particular patient case that comes to mind that I believe was the real “AHA” moment for both myself and the patient. This patient presented an intraoral viral lesion located on the palate, approximately 5 mm x 6 mm in size. She was prescribed antivirals, but due to her medical history, she ended up in the emergency room after just one day of taking medication. She stopped taking the antivirals and returned to the office five days later. I proposed using the Waterlase on the lesion to help heal it, but she was hesitant and did not want to pay for the treatment because she was not sure if it would help. I was so confident in my new laser that I told her not to pay me unless she saw results and all she had to do was sign a consent form – so she agreed. Two weeks later she returned to the office for her post-op appointment and pays the bill before she even sees me. She was so happy with the results and could not believe she was ever hesitant to try a better treatment option that did not involve medication.
Another one of my patients needed several class V restorations but was hesitant because he does not like long dental appointments and avoids them at all costs. When he finally scheduled an appointment, I performed 4 class V restorations in approximately thirty minutes from start to finish with the Waterlase. He said it was the “quickest and most comfortable dental appointment” he ever had and immediately booked the next available appointment to complete all his class V restorations.
Previous image
Next image
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!
The Final Outcome
Without a doubt, Waterlase has been a key differentiator when it comes to my practice and patient comfort. I had the opportunity to experience it for myself, see how it made me a better clinician, and better yet, how it benefits my patients.
Even my office staff has been impressed by the laser and its ability to perform faster minimally invasive procedures that make our patients happy and our workflow easier. My entire team has been properly trained to set it up, clean, and store the laser at the end of the day – they certainly enjoy seeing treatment being done on the quicker side and being part of an innovative team.
Overall, the success of our Waterlase would have not been possible without the help and support of the dedicated BIOLASE team, instructors, and peer community. This was highly noted during my trial program, and it showed meeting a lot of the team members and leaders at the Waterlase Weekend event in Palm Springs, CA. This was the ultimate experience to celebrate with other Waterlase dentists and the BIOLASE team. It’s amazing how much BIOLASE takes care of its doctors! Everything from their company culture, to having fun at the BMW racetrack, to the support with the equipment – it was quite evident. It was a great networking event, and I really enjoyed my time with the team and my peers.
About Shannon Chris, DDS
I was born and raised in Fiji Islands and moved to the USA in 2007. I did undergraduate studies at California State University Sacramento and did my DDS at Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry USC. I currently live in Sacramento, CA, and own my practice in Davis, CA. I’m the only member of my family with a college degree, let alone a DDS, and it’s an accomplishment that I’m really proud of. I love doing what I do, learning something new, and making a difference in the smiles of my patients.
Learn more about Dr. Chris at shannonchrisdds.com or follow her on Facebook.