Disclaimer: The video and content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. The settings, techniques, and suggestions provided are based on professional experience and are intended to complement, not replace, manufacturer training. They should be considered as general guidance and potential starting points only. Each licensed dentist is solely responsible for their clinical decisions, patient care, and the appropriate use of laser technology. The trainer assumes no liability for any outcomes, complications, or adverse events resulting from the use or misuse of lasers following this training. It is the responsibility of the treating clinician to ensure they are properly trained, adhere to manufacturer guidelines, and exercise their own professional judgment in each unique clinical situation. By participating in this training, you acknowledge that the trainer is not responsible for any direct or indirect consequences arising from the use of lasers in clinical practice.
Solea Cavity Preps in Half the Time Without Anesthesia
I’m Nick Clausen, and after working with over 3,000 dentists and coaching lasers for 25+ years, I’ve seen exactly what can expedite your Solea learning — and more importantly, how to fix it fast.
Why Using Your Solea Hiys A Sweet Spot
Dental Marketplace Stats:
- 60% of people avoid the dentist because they fear the drill and shots.
- Even among those who do visit, 83% experience anxiety.
If 60% of your community avoids the dentist because of the drill and the shot, what’s that costing your practice?"
The good news? You already have the solution sitting in your office — your Solea. You just need to unlock its full potential.
It goes without saying that fear makes it quite difficult to create a great patient experience. Also, anxious patients are far less likely to accept proposed treatment and that is why enrollment is so difficult in dentistry.
If you’re not leveraging your Solea to eliminate this fear, you’re missing out on enhancing the patient experience, increasing new patient flow, and improving treatment acceptance.
When optimally utilized on Cavity preps, your Solea can be a powerful marketing advantage that sets you apart and creates an entirely different patient experience. Introducing a new technology, especially one as technique-sensitive as lasers, can feel overwhelming and I understand why many simply stop trying. But with over 25 years of Laser Coaching, my goal is to simplify and make it easy to optimize. Don't give up, you’re much closer to success than you think!
Today, I’ll walk you through how to confidently perform Solea preps efficiently, comfortably, and without anesthesia.
The 4 Keys To Phase In Your Solea (Don’t Skip These!)
One of the biggest mistakes dentists make is starting with complex cases like Class II cavity preps. Instead, follow this phased approach:
- Step 1: Practice with your assistant the clinical techniques AND patient pre-framing.
- Step 2: Start with doing anterior teeth and Class V’s without anesthesia after practicing my techniques on extracted teeth.
- Step 3: Once comfortable with Class V's, gradually transition move to small Class I’s & III's.
- Step 4: Once comfortable with Class I's & III's, then gradually transition move to small Class II’s.
This phased learning method keeps you on schedule, prevents frustration, and leads to fast, predictable results.
The Power of Pre-Framing Your Patient
Laser dentistry can be virtually pain-free, but every patient perceives sensation differently. But you must pre-frame the experience properly before starting!
Essential Pre-Framing Points to Cover:
✔ Patient comfort is the priority
✔ Goal: No frozen face!
✔ Avoid words like “shot” and “drill”—even if you say “no shot,” the word shot alone can trigger fear.
✔ Explain they will feel "cold" and that’s normal.
✔ Let them know they are in control. They simply need to raise their hand if they feel anything more than cold and you will make adjustments to make them comfortable.
✔ Keep it short and confident.
Example Script:
"What’s most important to me is that you have a great dental experience today. Our goal is for you NOT to have a frozen face. You may feel some cold, like ice cream, and that’s okay. But if you feel anything more than cold, simply raise your left hand, and I will make an adjustment to keep you comfortable. Will you do that for me?"
This simple confidence-building conversation reassures the patient they are in control and eliminates fear before you even start.
The Power Formula For Fast & Consistent Cutting
Mastering Solea technique is like juggling three balls—drop one, and everything falls apart. These three keys must work together for fast, efficient cutting:
1️) Distance to Target Tissue
- With traditional tools, you rely on feel and touch. With a laser, you rely on visual precision.
- Common mistake: Holding the laser too close. (I get it, your used to a bur touching)
- Solution: Keep the laser 10-14 mm from the tissue. Have your assistant help watch and correct this at the beginning.
2️) Angle to Target Tissue
Laser energy must hit the tissue at a near-perpendicular angle to be effective.
- If you’re not at 90° to the surface, the laser will reflect instead of cutting.
- Example:
- With a bur, you go straight into the occlusal groove and prep inside out.
- With a Class l's, the laser must be perpendicular to the incline of the cusp for efficient ablation. That is why Class V's are easy, because you are naturally perpendicular to thinner enamel.
- Solution: Alway make sure your laser beam intersects the surface at 90°.
3️) Speed of Movement
- The slower you move, the faster the laser cuts.
- Most dentists naturally move too fast because they are trained to “feather” with a handpiece.
- “Feathering” or rapid strokes won’t work with a laser!
Exercise to Master Speed Control:
- On a piece of paper, draw two small vertical lines about 3mm apart.
- Hold a pen on 1 of the vertical lines.
- Move between the lines—it should take 3 full seconds while counting “One-one-thousand… Two one-thousand...Three-one thousand”. This is the speed you move on enamel. 2 Seconds for Dentin & 1 Second for Caries,
- Most dentists do this in ¼ second! If it feels slow, that’s the correct speed. Most likely, you have been moving WAY too fast.
Laser Speed Optimization Pearl:
"If the laser seems slow, SLOW DOWN before you power up!"
4) Not Aware of Pace & Timing
This isn’t about hand speed—it’s about how long you spend in one area before patients feel discomfort.
- Think about running your hand through a candle flame. You can do this a few times, but linger too long and it will burn.
- Laser cavity preps are the same—thermal energy buildup causes discomfort.
- Solution is a concept called Thermal Relaxation:
- Macro Pace: Limit total laser time to 2-3 minutes per tooth.
- Micro Pace: Move on after 3-5 seconds per 2-3mm area to avoid heat buildup. If you stay in one spot for more than5 seconds you build up thermal energy. This causes "Ouches"!
In summary we need to consider Thermal Relaxation on our initial setting and HOW LONG we apply Laser energy to the patient. I do not like to spend more than 2-3 minutes total with the laser during a prep. After that amount of time, go to your bur and finish the prep. The laser analgesia is more than adequate to do this. Most dentists aren’t aware of this timing factor, but it makes all the difference in patient comfort and efficiency.
How & When to Adjust Your Laser
Golden Rule of Laser Power:
Always use the least amount of power necessary to achieve your clinical objective.
Final Thoughts – You’re Closer to Success Than You Think!
Mastering Solea Cavity Preps without anesthesia is easier than you think—once you apply these principles:
- Pre-frame your patient properly
- Dial in the technique keys (Distance, Angle, Speed, Pace & Footpedal Modulation)
- Use the least power necessary for efficient cutting
Once you master these, you’ll be ready for more advanced Solea procedures with predictability and speed!