LASER DENTISTRY IN GRANADA HILLS: THE SOLEA EXPERIENCE

What the Solea laser is, in plain language

Most dental lasers work only on soft tissue — gums — because their wavelength doesn't cut enamel. Solea is different. It's a CO₂ laser at a specific wavelength that both hard tissue (enamel, dentin, bone) and soft tissue absorb, so one instrument does the work that used to take a drill, a scalpel, and an electrocautery unit combined.

Three properties change the experience:

• It works without contact or vibration. A drill cuts by friction. That friction produces heat, pressure, and the high-pitched sound and rattling most people hate. The laser vaporizes tooth structure with light — no spinning bur touching the tooth, no vibration through your jaw.
• It's numbing in itself. The laser's rapid pulses have an analgesic effect on the nerve inside the tooth, which is why superficial cavities can be treated with no anesthetic injection.
• It seals as it cuts. On soft tissue, the laser cauterizes blood vessels as it goes. Gum procedures that used to bleed and need stitches are nearly bloodless, and healing is faster.

Dr. Baghdasaryan completed Convergent Dental's clinical training program after bringing Solea into the practice.

Where the needle goes away, and where it doesn't

This is the part most laser pages get wrong, and it's worth saying precisely.

No injection at all:

superficial cavities — decay confined to the enamel and the outer part of the dentin — and superficial enamel damage. These are the majority of cavities caught at regular exams, and for these, you sit down, the laser works for a few minutes, and you leave without a numb lip. Patients describe a cool sensation and the sound of a light tapping. That's it.

Anesthetic still needed, but less of it:

deeper cavities that approach the nerve, and most surgical procedures. For these, numbing is delivered with The Wand — a computer-controlled system that releases anesthetic slowly enough that most patients don't feel the injection — and because the laser causes less trauma than a drill or scalpel, less anesthetic is needed and it wears off sooner.

Any practice that promises "no needle, ever" is either overstating the technology or restricting itself to shallow work. Here, the honest version is this: for most routine fillings, no shot; for everything else, a shot you'll barely notice, and less of it than you'd get elsewhere.

What Solea is used for at Viva Smile

The laser is a daily instrument here, not a showpiece. Its uses:

Cavities and fillings.

Decay is removed with the laser instead of a drill, and the tooth-colored filling is placed the same visit. No drill sound, no vibration, and for superficial cavities, no injection.

Gum contouring and gingivectomy.

Excess or uneven gum tissue is reshaped to correct a "gummy smile" or even out the gumline. The laser sculpts tissue precisely and seals it as it works — minimal bleeding, no sutures in most cases, and healing in days rather than weeks. This is often the first step in a cosmetic case, so the veneers or bonding that follow are designed to the corrected gumline.

Crown lengthening.

When more tooth structure needs to be exposed — to fit a crown properly or to reveal teeth that look too short — the laser reshapes the gum and, where needed, the bone edge, with far less swelling than conventional surgery.

Frenectomy.

A tight band of tissue under the tongue or lip (a tongue-tie or lip-tie) can restrict movement, contribute to gum recession, or pull on the gumline. The laser releases it in minutes with no bleeding and no stitches.

Gum depigmentation.

Dark or patchy gum pigmentation is lightened by removing the pigmented surface layer with the laser, leaving uniform pink tissue.

Removal of lesions and biopsies.

A suspicious spot, a fibroma, or a growth is removed cleanly and precisely, and sent for evaluation when indicated.

Second-stage implant uncovering.

When an implant has healed under the gum and it's time to attach the abutment, the laser opens the tissue bloodlessly, with less trauma to the gum that will frame the final crown.

Canker sores and cold sores.

A brief laser treatment relieves pain almost immediately and shortens healing time. Cold sores treated early may not fully form.

Surgical incisions.

For procedures like wisdom tooth extraction and sinus lifts, Dr. Baghdasaryan uses the laser as the scalpel. The incision is clean and bloodless, which means a clearer surgical field, less swelling afterward, and more comfortable healing.

What the appointment feels like

Patients who've spent years dreading the dentist tend to describe the same three things after a Solea visit.

The quiet. There's no drill whine — the laser makes a soft tapping sound. The absence of vibration. Nothing spins against the tooth, so there's none of the rattling through the jaw that makes a filling feel like an ordeal. And the leaving: for superficial work, no numbness, no drooping lip, no waiting three hours to eat lunch. You're done, and you go about your day.

For anyone whose anxiety runs deeper than the drill, the laser pairs with the rest of the practice's comfort options — The Wand for injections when they're needed, and IV sedation for longer procedures. Dr. Baghdasaryan trained in IV sedation at USC and serves as an evaluator for the Dental Board of California, conducting the site inspections and competency evaluations other dentists must pass to receive a moderate sedation permit.

Is laser dentistry safe?

Yes. Solea is cleared by the FDA for use on hard and soft tissue, and dental lasers have decades of clinical use behind them. Because the laser is absorbed by tooth structure and tissue at a precise depth, it removes only what it's aimed at — surrounding healthy tooth and tissue are spared in a way a rotating bur can't match. Protective eyewear is worn during treatment, which is the standard precaution for any dental laser.

Does insurance cover laser treatment?

Yes, the same way it covers conventional treatment. A filling is a filling and a gingivectomy is a gingivectomy regardless of the instrument used, and all PPO plans cover laser procedures under the same codes at the same rates. Choosing the laser doesn't cost you more or change your coverage. We verify your specific benefits before treatment so you know exactly where you stand.

The drill was never the point of dentistry

It was just the tool available. Solea replaces it for most of what happens here — and for the superficial cavities most people come in with, the needle goes with it. The honest edges are on this page so you know exactly what to expect: no shot for shallow work, a shot you'll barely feel for deeper work, and less of it than you'd get with a drill.

If you've been putting off a visit because of the drill or the needle, a dental exam is the place to start. Book online or call (818) 900-2800.