A precise, minimally invasive alternative to the drill for patients who want better treatment and a recovery that doesn’t slow them down.
Part of our orthodontic services at Advanced Dental Solutions, WaterLase iPlus is an all-tissue dental laser cleared for over 80 clinical procedures. Most patients asking about it want to understand two things: whether it applies to what they actually need treated, and what the experience is like compared to traditional dentistry. The technology covers more ground than most people expect, and it does so with significantly less discomfort.
What Is WaterLase iPlus?
WaterLase iPlus is an all-tissue dental laser that uses focused energy and a controlled water stream to treat teeth, gums, and bone without the friction, heat, or pressure of a traditional drill. The technology works through a process called hydroforesis: laser energy interacts with water molecules in the tissue, removing and reshaping it with precision that protects the healthy structure around it. No cutting. No vibration. No burning heat.
Many procedures with WaterLase require little to no local anesthesia, which matters if needles or drill sounds are what have kept you out of the dental chair. The laser also sterilizes the treatment area as it works, reducing infection risk and supporting faster, smoother recovery than conventional instruments can offer.
How WaterLase iPlus Works
Treatment follows the same general sequence as conventional dentistry, but the procedural experience is different.
- Evaluation and candidacy — Your provider confirms WaterLase iPlus is appropriate for your specific condition and reviews your overall oral health picture before proceeding.
- Treatment planning — A step-by-step plan is built around your case, covering the specific procedure, laser settings, and post-treatment care instructions tailored to what you need.
- Treatment — The laser handpiece is positioned near the target area and delivers precise, gentle pulses of laser energy combined with a fine water spray. There is no physical contact with the tissue, no drill pressure, and no heat buildup in the surrounding structure.
- Recovery — Aftercare instructions are reviewed and follow-up appointments are scheduled to monitor healing. Most patients return to normal activity within 24 to 48 hours.
Session length varies by procedure, from roughly 10 to 15 minutes for a frenectomy to 45 to 90 minutes for root canal treatment. The time is comparable to conventional counterparts. The recovery is typically shorter.
What WaterLase iPlus Can Treat
Cavities and Fillings
Decay removed with precision that preserves more of your healthy tooth. No drill required for most preparations.
Gum Reshaping and Contouring
A more balanced, aesthetic gum line without scalpels. Minimal bleeding and a recovery measured in days, not weeks.
Gum Disease Treatment
Early to moderate periodontitis treated with the REPAIR Perio protocol. Less invasive than traditional surgery, with better post-procedure comfort.
Root Canal Treatment
Cleaner, more comfortable canal cleaning and shaping without the sounds and pressure patients expect and dread.
Frenectomy
Released in 10 to 15 minutes with laser precision. Healing typically takes one to two weeks compared to two to four weeks with conventional surgery.
Peri-Implantitis Treatment
Inflammation around dental implants addressed with the REPAIR Implant protocol before it puts your long-term results at risk.
Teeth Whitening
Whitening gel activated with laser energy for faster, more even results in a single appointment.
Bone Procedures
Bone grafting and removal of benign bone growths handled with laser precision and less post-procedure disruption.
Not sure which applies to you? That is exactly what a consultation is for. Schedule Yours Here
Why Advanced Dental Solutions for Laser Dentistry in Torrance
Dr. Shawna Omid is a former faculty member at the UCLA School of Dentistry, and the standard at this practice is full transparency before any procedure. If a conventional approach fits your situation better, your provider will tell you so and explain why. WaterLase iPlus is used here because it produces better outcomes in the right clinical context, not as a selling point. Most PPO plans are accepted, with financing available through CareCredit, Cherry, and the HFD Program for patients managing larger treatment costs.
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Frequently Asked Questions About WaterLase iPlus
For many procedures, yes. WaterLase iPlus is cleared for cavity preparation, gum reshaping, root canal treatment, bone procedures, and more without the rotating drill mechanism. That said, it is not a universal replacement for every conventional tool in every clinical scenario. Some cases still call for traditional instruments, and your provider will be straightforward about which approach is right for your situation. The goal is the best outcome for your specific teeth, not using a particular technology for its own sake.
For many WaterLase procedures, patients require little to no local anesthesia, and that is one of the most meaningful differences from conventional dentistry for patients whose main barrier to care is needle anxiety or anticipation of drill discomfort. How much anesthesia you need depends on the specific procedure, your individual sensitivity, and the extent of the work being done. Your provider will walk through this with you before treatment begins so there are no surprises.
The main difference is less trauma to surrounding tissue. Because WaterLase removes or reshapes tissue through hydroforesis rather than cutting or drilling, there is less bleeding, less swelling, and less post-procedure discomfort. For soft tissue procedures like frenectomies, the difference is particularly noticeable: healing with laser treatment typically takes one to two weeks compared to two to four weeks after conventional surgical removal. For most procedures, patients return to normal activity within 24 to 48 hours.
Coverage depends on the procedure being performed, not the technology used to perform it. Most insurance plans cover dental treatment based on clinical indication, and if a procedure is covered conventionally, the laser-performed version is generally billed the same way. Most PPO plans are accepted at Advanced Dental Solutions, and financing is available through CareCredit, Cherry, and the HFD Program. Your provider will review coverage specifics at your consultation once the right treatment plan has been confirmed.
The only way to know with certainty is an evaluation. WaterLase iPlus is cleared for over 80 different dental indications, so it covers a wide range of common conditions. Candidacy also depends on your current oral health status, the extent of the problem being treated, and whether any existing factors make a conventional approach preferable for your case. Your provider will review all of this at your first appointment and give you a clear, direct answer about which approach makes sense and why.
For a lot of patients, yes, in ways that matter. The absence of drill sound and vibration, the reduction in anesthesia for many procedures, and the gentler tissue handling address the specific things that make dental visits difficult for anxious patients. It is not a guarantee of zero discomfort, and your provider will be honest with you about what to expect for your specific procedure. But if what has kept you away is fear of shots, drills, or a long recovery, WaterLase iPlus changes enough of that picture to make it worth coming in and finding out what your teeth actually need.
One Conversation Is All It Takes
If you have been putting off dental work because of fear, discomfort, or simply not knowing what your options are, this is where that changes. A consultation at Advanced Dental Solutions in Torrance, CA means you leave with a real plan: what needs to be treated, how WaterLase iPlus can help, and exactly what to expect from start to recovery. No guessing. No pressure. Just straight answers from a provider who takes the time to actually explain things.
The drill does not have to be part of your story anymore. Call us or book online today and find out what treatment without the fear actually looks and feels like.