From patient smiles to practice growth: dental laser investment pays off

Dr. Jenny C. Jackson explains how the Solea^® All-Tissue Laser enhanced her practice

Stemming from a desire to make dental visits fun and easy for children, Jenny C. Jackson, DMD, MPH, FAAPD, founded Asheville Pediatric Dentistry in Asheville, North Carolina. For Dr. Jackson, the emotional impact of dental visits is personal. Having had a difficult dental experience as a child, she pursued pediatric dentistry to provide a better experience for young patients. So, when she learned the Solea^® All-Tissue Laser enables anesthesia-free restorations, she knew she had to make the technology available to her community. She was then pleasantly surprised to learn of all the other benefits that came with it.

When Dr. Jackson invested in Solea in February 2020, she had no idea that a global pandemic would soon disrupt dental practices everywhere. Yet, in hindsight, this decision turned out to be one of the best she ever made for her practice. The laser not only elevated clinical outcomes and patient experience but also enhanced efficiency and proved to be a financially sound investment.

A transformational patient experience

One of the most significant benefits of the Solea Laser is the ability to complete procedures without numbing. Parents no longer have to worry about their child leaving the office with a numb mouth, and children feel more relaxed knowing they will not need a shot. Dr. Jackson has seen firsthand how this has shifted the perception of dental visits for families.

“Before, patients would worry if they needed a filling. Now, when they hear they need treatment with Solea, their whole body relaxes. The relief on their faces — and their parents’ faces — is priceless.”

The impact on her team has been just as profound. Staff members no longer need to console nervous children after procedures or reassure parents about lingering numbness. Instead, the office runs smoothly, with “beautiful, easy-flowing days almost all the time.”

“If someone were to take my Solea away, I would seriously reconsider practicing,” Dr. Jackson shares. “It has dramatically changed the experience for my patients, their parents, and my team.”

A game-changer in clinical excellence

The Solea Laser has also elevated Dr. Jackson’s clinical capabilities. Procedures that once required invasive techniques or referrals can now be completed in-office with greater precision and better patient outcomes.

“Previously, I would have placed stainless steel or zirconia crowns on certain first molars,” she explains. “With Solea, I can conservatively restore them with resins with incredible predictability and beautiful outcomes.”

The laser has also enabled her to expand into new treatment areas, including frenuloplasties, hemangioma removals, bloodless tooth exposures, and other soft tissue surgeries. Patients have increasingly sought her expertise, even traveling internationally for treatment, further validating the value this technology has brought to her practice.

A strong return on investment

Though Dr. Jackson invested in the laser for its clinical and patient-care benefits, the financial benefits became evident quickly. Despite acquiring it just before the COVID-19 shutdown, her practice rebounded strongly, going from a 36% revenue decline in Q2 of 2020 to closing the year just 1% below 2019 levels, even with having to close half her open-bay chairs for distancing during that period.

Some of the key financial impacts included:

• Increased operative production: Her average daily operative production grew by $1,400 per day in the first full year with Solea, and total production was up over $800k.
• Expanded treatment options: In addition to increasing restorative and operative efficiencies, the laser allowed Dr. Jackson to perform a wider range of soft-tissue procedures, further increasing practice revenue.
• Efficiency gains and new patient flow: The laser streamlined workflows, allowing more patients to be treated daily and more procedures per patient. She saw a 53% growth in new patient starts in her first full year with
• Work-life balance: By optimizing productivity, Dr. Jackson was able to reduce her workdays while still increasing production.

“At the end of my first year with Solea, I asked my accountant if I should pay off the first laser. She said, ‘No, you should get another one.’ So, we did — and we saw even more growth.”

The second laser allowed her and her associate to seamlessly integrate the technology into each of their workflows, ensuring that every patient benefits from the best available treatment.

Her message to fellow dentists is clear: If you do what is right for every patient, as an individual, every time, everything else falls into place. The financial aspect works itself out by doing the right thing for the patient.

“While you have to conserve resources and have a budget, you must always do what’s in the best interest of your patients. If you do, and that’s truly where your heart is, it’s felt. It’s palpable in the energy of your practice and in all you do. Solea allows you to take this mentally to the next level, providing compassionate care that feels good and is better for the patient and their families, resulting in superior outcomes as well. It’s beautiful how we can stay truly present and love the care we are providing, knowing it’s unlike anything previously available.

“Parents ask me all the time, why isn’t everyone doing this (offering Solea)?  I tell them, that I believe they will be, once they realize the true impact of this laser and how it changes their level of care for their patients.”

This information was provided by Convergent Dental.