Laser dentistry is one of Dr. Paddy’s favorite innovations and not just because it sounds like something from a sci-fi movie (though that does give it some cool points). He also loves it because lasers help him perform all sorts of dental procedures with almost zero pain. In fact, we rarely have to give patients a shot of sleepy juice to numb them since, unlike with a drill, the technique doesn’t involve heat or vibration. At Kids Mile High, we offer pediatric WaterLase dentistry in Englewood, CO and Central Park, CO. Today, we’ll be covering how WaterLase works and why our patients and their parents are such big fans.
What is WaterLase Laser Dentistry?
We use both WaterLase MD and WaterLase iPlus lasers here at Kids Mile High. Though often referred to as laser dentistry, they’re actually types of water laser dentistry. So, what is water laser dentistry? Well, it relies on laser energy and water spray to help us perform different dental procedures on both the soft tissues, such as the gums, and the hard stuff like the teeth and bones.
The laser takes the place of other tools, including the drill and scalpel. Dr. Paddy uses the WaterLase hand piece to direct a concentrated beam of laser energy to the precise area of the tooth or gums that he’s treating. When the laser touches the surface, a reaction occurs with the water molecules and it can painlessly cut through the enamel or gum tissue. While the laser is doing its thing, a continuous spray of water cools the area, so no heat is felt, which is why it doesn’t hurt.
The pain associated with the drill is from the heat, vibrations and pressure. WaterLase has none of those things and when we use it for routine procedures like treating a cavity, the majority kids don’t need anesthetic. Bypassing the needles and the drill for any patient is a huge plus but it’s been particularly helpful for our littlest smiles. WaterLase lasers are safe and have been FDA-approved for treating kiddos and grown-ups.
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What Treatments Can You Perform With WaterLase?
As a super duper water laser dentist, Dr. Paddy can use laser dentistry for a bunch of treatments. While you’ll want to schedule an appointment at KMH to see if your child is a candidate based on their needs, generally, these are some of the common WaterLase procedures we perform:
- Removing tooth decay and cavity preparation
- Frenectomy (releasing tongue- or lip-tie)
- Removing growths or extra tissue (like when we eliminate excess gum tissue that’s covering an un-erupted tooth)
- Gum disease treatment
- Treatment of mouth ulcers or sores
Why WaterLase Laser Dentistry?
Many parents come to us having heard that laser dentistry is “better” — but they’re not quite sure why. Fair enough. Here’s what we actually mean when we say that, broken down properly.
1. It’s Genuinely More Comfortable
Pain during dental treatment comes from three things: heat, vibration, and pressure. A drill produces all three. WaterLase produces none of them. That’s not marketing speak – it’s just how the technology works. For kids who’ve had difficult experiences with traditional dentistry, this difference is often the thing that finally makes dental visits manageable.
2. Most Kids Don’t Need a Needle
We’ve touched on this already, but it’s worth repeating because it genuinely changes the experience. For fillings and a lot of other restorative work, injections simply aren’t needed. For children who are terrified of needles – which, let’s be real, is most of them – this removes one of the biggest sources of dread before they even sit in the chair.
3. We Preserve More of the Natural Tooth
A drill has to be imprecise by nature. It removes a margin of healthy tooth around the decay just to be sure everything is cleared. WaterLase doesn’t need that buffer. It targets only what needs to come out, leaving the rest of the tooth structure intact. For a child’s developing teeth, keeping as much natural tooth as possible isn’t just nice to have – it matters long-term.
4. No Micro-Fractures
Here’s something most people don’t know about drilling: the vibrations can cause tiny hairline cracks in the surrounding enamel. These micro-fractures don’t always cause immediate problems, but over time they can lead to sensitivity or other issues. Because WaterLase doesn’t make physical contact with force, there’s no vibration and no risk of that kind of damage.
5. Fillings Actually Last Longer
This one surprises people. The laser etches and conditions the tooth surface at a microscopic level before the filling material goes in – which creates a stronger bond between the restoration and the tooth. In practical terms, that means fillings placed after WaterLase preparation tend to hold up better and last longer than those placed after traditional drilling. Better outcome, longer lifespan.
6. The Laser Kills Bacteria
Laser energy has natural antibacterial properties. When we’re treating a cavity or dealing with gum disease, the WaterLase is actively reducing the bacterial load in the treated area at the same time. That means better healing and a lower chance of reinfection – which is particularly helpful for children who are prone to recurring decay.
7. Soft Tissue Procedures Heal Much Faster
For anything involving the gums – frenectomies, removing excess tissue, treating gum disease – WaterLase produces far less bleeding and swelling than a scalpel. Stitches are rarely needed. Healing happens noticeably faster. For infants getting tongue-tie or lip-tie releases, this is a really big deal. Many babies are feeding again within minutes of the procedure finishing.
8. It’s So Much Quieter
The sound of a dental drill is one of those things that gets into your head. Even kids who’ve never had a filling are conditioned to feel uneasy about it. WaterLase barely makes a sound – a soft, low hum at most. For children with sensory sensitivities, dental anxiety, autism, or other special needs, this quieter environment isn’t a minor comfort. It’s often what makes the difference between a successful appointment and one that falls apart before it begins.
9. FDA-Approved and Clinically Proven
WaterLase technology from BIOLASE has been FDA-approved for use in children and adults for over two decades. It’s not new, and it’s not experimental. At Kids Mile High, we use the WaterLase MD and WaterLase iPlus – two of the most advanced systems available in pediatric dentistry today. You’re in good hands.
10. Fewer Appointments, Lower Overall Cost
Treating multiple areas in one visit doesn’t just save time – it also reduces the overall cost of treatment when you factor in fewer appointments. WaterLase dentistry is priced comparably to conventional treatment, and in many cases ends up being more economical once you account for the reduced number of visits. Less time in the chair, less time off school, less rearranging your week.
How Does WaterLase Dentistry Work for Children?
If your child has ever gripped the armrests at the sight of a dental drill, you’re not alone. The noise, the pressure, the shot beforehand – it’s a lot. WaterLase works completely differently, and once you understand how, it’s honestly hard to go back to thinking about traditional dentistry the same way.
Instead of a spinning drill, WaterLase uses a concentrated beam of laser energy combined with a fine water mist. That’s it. No friction, no heat, no vibration. Here’s what a typical visit actually looks like for your child:
Step 1: In Most Cases, There’s No Shot
This is usually the first thing parents want to know – and the answer is that for most routine procedures, your child won’t need a numbing injection at all. Dental pain from a drill comes from heat and vibration. WaterLase doesn’t create either of those things, so there’s simply nothing to numb. Kids walk in, sit down, and we get started. No needle, no waiting 10 minutes for the anaesthetic to kick in, no numb lip on the drive home.
Step 2: The Handpiece is Tiny – and Quiet
The WaterLase handpiece is small and lightweight. Our dentist guides it gently to the exact spot being treated — whether that’s a cavity, a gum issue, or a tongue-tie. The laser beam is remarkably precise. It targets only the area that needs treatment and leaves everything around it completely alone. Healthy tooth structure stays healthy.
Step 3: The Laser and Water Work Together
When the laser tip touches the surface, it energises the water molecules already present in the tissue. This causes the decay or gum tissue to break down and be removed — gently and accurately — without any of the pressure you’d feel from a drill. At the same time, a continuous cool water spray keeps the area comfortable throughout. Most kids describe it as a light tingling. Some say they don’t feel anything at all.
Step 4: We Can Often Treat Multiple Areas in One Go
Because we’re not waiting for anaesthetic and the laser works quickly, we can often treat more than one area of the mouth in a single appointment. That’s something that just isn’t practical with traditional methods. Fewer visits means less disruption to school, less rearranging your schedule, and honestly, just fewer trips to the dentist overall — which most kids are completely fine with.
Step 5: Recovery is Quick
After a WaterLase procedure, most kids are back to normal within a few hours. There’s very little post-treatment swelling or discomfort, especially for soft tissue work like frenectomies. And because there’s no lingering anaesthetic, your child can eat normally as soon as they feel comfortable. No waiting. No weird numb feeling. Just done.
Frequently Asked Questions About WaterLase Laser Dentistry for Kids
We get a lot of questions from parents before their child’s first WaterLase appointment. These are the ones that come up most often — answered as plainly as we can.
Q1: Is WaterLase safe for young children?
Yes — and this is one of the first things we want parents to feel confident about. WaterLase is FDA-approved for children of all ages, including infants. Our dentists are specifically trained in pediatric laser dentistry, and the energy levels used are calibrated for delicate tissue. We’ve used it safely on hundreds of young patients, from babies having tongue-tie releases to teenagers getting cavities filled.
Q2: Does it hurt?
For the vast majority of kids, no. The most common description we hear is a light tingling, or nothing at all. Because WaterLase doesn’t use heat or vibration — the real culprits behind dental pain — there’s simply much less to feel. For more involved procedures, we may still use a small amount of topical anaesthetic, but a full injection is rarely on the table.
Q3: Will my child still need a needle?
In most cases, no. For routine fillings and similar restorative work, the majority of our patients don’t need a local anaesthetic injection when we use WaterLase. Every child is different, and our dentists will always assess your child’s specific situation first — but if we can skip the needle, we will.
Q4: What procedures can WaterLase be used for?
More than most people expect. At Kids Mile High, we use WaterLase for:
- Removing decay and preparing cavities for fillings
- Frenectomy (tongue-tie and lip-tie release)
- Removing excess or overgrown gum tissue
- Treating gum disease
- Relieving pain from mouth ulcers and canker sores
- Exposing teeth that haven’t come through fully
- Soft tissue biopsies
Q5: Is it more expensive than regular dentistry?
Generally, no. WaterLase treatment is priced comparably to conventional care and once you factor in fewer appointments and less need for anaesthetic, it often works out similarly or even more cost-effective. We’re always happy to walk you through what your child’s treatment would look like cost-wise, and we can help you figure out what your insurance or FSA/HSA covers.
Q6: How long does a WaterLase appointment take?
Usually shorter than you’d expect, since we’re not spending time waiting for anaesthetic. A straightforward filling can take as little as 15 to 20 minutes from start to finish. More complex procedures take longer, of course but we’ll give you a realistic time estimate at your child’s consultation so there are no surprises.
Q7: My child has really bad dental anxiety. Is this still an option?
Honestly, WaterLase tends to be one of the best options for anxious kids specifically. No loud drill, no needle in most cases, no pressure or vibration the things that trigger anxiety in the first place are mostly just gone. We’ve had children who’d previously needed sedation for routine fillings complete WaterLase procedures without any sedation at all. It doesn’t happen overnight for every child, but the change we see is often remarkable.
Q8: Can you use it on babies and toddlers?
Yes. Infant frenectomies releasing tongue-tie or lip-tie are one of the most common uses of WaterLase in very young children. The procedure is brief, there’s minimal bleeding, and stitches are almost never needed. Many babies resume feeding within minutes. For parents who’ve been struggling with breastfeeding or early speech concerns related to a tongue-tie, this can genuinely be life-changing.
Q9: How do I know if my child is a good candidate?
The best way is to come in and let us take a look. Our dentists Dr. Paddy, Dr. Roger, Dr. Meredith, Dr. Camille, and Dr. Catherine will examine your child, talk through what they need, and recommend the right approach. WaterLase works well for the vast majority of children, but we always tailor our recommendations to the individual child in front of us.
Q10: Is WaterLase available at all your locations?
WaterLase is currently available at our Englewood and Central Park, CO offices. Give us a call to confirm and to book your child’s consultation — we’d love to show you what a different kind of dental visit can feel like.
