Waterlase iPlus Veneer & Crown Removal: Mastering Dental Laser Techniques

I’m Nick Clausen, and after working with over 3,000 dentists and coaching lasers for 25+ years, I’ve seen exactly why Waterlase frustration happens — and more importantly, how to fix it fast. 

Finally—A Faster, Easier, More Predictable Way to Remove Veneers & Crowns Without Damage

Replacing veneers and crowns is a reality every dentist faces. Whether it’s microleakage, discoloration, margin fractures, or simple longevity wear, restorations need to come off.

The problem? Traditional methods are slow, destructive, and uncomfortable for patients or the dentists.

High-speed handpieces and diamonds destroy the restoration (so no chance of reusing it), risk damaging healthy tooth structure, and rely on mechanical force—which isn’t exactly pleasant for the patient in the chair.

That’s where the Laser comes in to help.

Using precise laser energy, your Laser  can safely degrade the cement bond between the veneer or crown and the underlying tooth—without damaging the ceramic itself, without heating up the pulp, and often preserving the restoration in a single piece.

This guide—and the accompanying video training—walk you through everything you need to know to master veneer removal using your Waterlase iPlus, step by step.

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Why Mastering Laser Veneer Removal is a Game-Changer

✅ Can remove some facial veneers in 60 seconds or less.

✅ Remove full-coverage crowns in under 5 minutes.

✅ Preserve healthy tooth structure by eliminating aggressive prep with a bur.

✅ Can save the restoration for re-use (especially valuable for improperly seated veneers or crowns).

✅ Eliminate unnecessary patient discomfort caused by mechanical removal AND frustration of the operating dentists.

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Step 1: Understanding The Laser’s Job – What’s Really Happening

Waterlase isn’t cutting the veneer or crown. It’s targeting the cement layer underneath. The laser energy heats and weakens the bond at the cement-to-tooth interface that breaks down the cement.

The key is to cover the entire surface of the veneer or crown to ensure the cement is fully compromised.  If you do not apply energy to even 1 small area, that bond will stay stable.

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Step 2: Positioning the Laser for Success

The correct tip positioning is critical for both efficiency and safety.

✅ Always be as perpendicular to the surce as possible for the most effective debonding.

✅ The tip should always stay 1-2mm from the veneer/crown surface—never touch it.

💥 Why? Contacting the surface can reflect energy back into your fiber optic delivery system, causing serious—and expensive—damage to your laser’s fiber.

If you’ve had mysterious fiber failures after high-power veneer or crown removals, this is likely the culprit.

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Step 3: Slow and Methodical – Cover Every Millimeter

This isn’t a spot treatment—it’s a full coverage technique.

✅ Start at the buccal margin and slowly paint your way across the surface.

✅ Move mesial to distal, incisal to cervical, overlapping your passes slightly.

✅ Keep the tip perpendicular to the surface whenever possible.

✅ If it’s a posterior crown, cover the occlusal surface as well.

Your goal is complete coverage—miss even a small spot, and the veneer will stay locked in place.

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Step 4: Work Within the Right Timeframe

Most veneers should release in 1-2 minutes. A general rule, the more facial, the faster.  Posterior crowns have a higher probability of not getting all the cement engaged with the laser energy due to difficult angles and access.   If the veneer or crown doesn’t budge, use a scaler or spoon excavator to gently catch an edge or margin and see if you can encourage separation.

For full-coverage crowns, you can also try temporary crown removal pliers to add slight mechanical pressure after laser treatment.

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When It Doesn’t Release – What Next?

If, after two complete laser passes, the restoration still hasn’t separated, it’s possible:

• The cement is unusually resistant.
• The restoration is too thick for laser energy to fully penetrate.

 At this point, you may need to mechanically section the crown with a high-speed bur. However, the laser treatment will have already weakened the cement, so cutting will be faster and easier, often splitting the crown into just two pieces.

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What About Fractured or Chipped Veneers?

If the veneer already has a crack, laser removal will still work—but the veneer may come off in pieces rather than a single whole restoration. This is perfectly normal.

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What About PFM Crowns?

Laser energy cannot penetrate metal!.

If you’re working with a porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crown or a full metal crown, you’ll need to rely on traditional mechanical removal methods.

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Can This Work on Zirconia Crowns or Orthodontic Brackets?

✅ Yes!
Zirconia, lithium disilicate, and leucite glass ceramics can all be removed with Waterlase.

✅ Ceramic orthodontic brackets can also be removed using the same veneer settings.

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Essential Tips to Protect Your Fiber & Maximize Results

🔹 Never touch the veneer/crown surface with the laser tip.
🔹 Maintain 1-2mm distance at all times.
🔹 If your fiber has failed after high-power veneer removal, improper technique is often to blame.
🔹 Always use non-contact, sweeping coverage for best results.

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Manufacturer Recommended Starting Settings

Procedure	Tip	Power	PPS		Water	Air	Mode
Veneer Removal	MZ8	3.5W	20 Hz		50%	50%	H
Full Coverage Crown	MX9 Turbo	5W	15 Hz		50%	50%	H

💥 Nick’s Pearl: These are suggested starting points.
👉 If you don’t need to preserve the restoration, you can increase power slightly for faster removal.
👉 Be careful not to exceed 5W!.

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Technique Summary – Your Step-by-Step Workflow

1. Select proper tip and settings.
2. Hold tip 1-2mm from surface.
3. Slowly and evenly cover entire restoration surface.
4. Complete buccal, lingual, mesial, distal, and occlusal for crowns.
5. Gently test for separation with scaler or pliers.
6. If no separation, repeat laser pass.
7. If necessary, section restoration with bur (should be much easier).

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Common Questions Answered

Question	Answer
What if the veneer is cracked?	Laser will still work, but veneer may come off in pieces.
Can I use this on a PFM crown?	No—metal blocks laser energy.
What if the crown doesn’t release?	Repeat 1-2 cycles. If still stuck, section with bur.
Does this work on zirconia?	Yes, zirconia and lithium disilicate respond well.

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👉 Save time, reduce stress, protect tooth structure—and make veneer and crown removal a fast, predictable, painless process.

 

If you’re serious about Optimizing Your Waterlase iPlus in Mutiple Applications, my VIP Self-Paced Program has you covered!  Deails below.