Everyone wants to know what they can use their laser for, how they can make money off their laser, as well as which codes to use for the procedures they’re doing. Let’s look at answers to several questions you may have.
Why do we need dental lasers?
Lasers can be used to complete procedures more effectively and are a state-of-the-art technology that continue to prove necessary for the dental office’s daily protocol.
Lasers are being accepted by our patients and colleagues on a daily basis. We need to learn about what they can do and stay current with what is happening in our profession.
They allow us to work smarter and not harder, allowing us to educate our patients while they see the benefits of how lasers can be useful.
Can lasers be productive?
Dental professionals always want to know how lasers can make the practice more money, but we need to remember one very important objective with using lasers: They are a tool for us to use, just like we use a Cavitron, or a prophy angle, or any scalers we choose to use. Lasers are not a procedure.
Currently, there isn’t a laser code. Many try to use and have been told to use D4999 but remember that insurance companies do not pay on this code. If you are contracted with insurance companies, the patient usually declines this portion of the treatment; therefore, they don’t get the results we see when the procedure is done right using a laser.
How can we fix this? We need to incorporate all the “fees” into the existing codes that we can use. So, we need to make sure that we have maximized the fees to make the laser profitable.
Lasers pay for themselves by making procedures faster, more efficient, and what patients are actively looking for, allowing us to bring in more patients and referrals for others wanting laser dentistry.
Do lasers work?
Lasers continue to prove themselves with what all they can do and provide—from effectiveness, little to no discomfort, and ease of educating the patient with state-of-the-art technology to ease of learning and belief in the benefits of how the laser can be a very useful tool.
What can lasers be used for?
A laser can be used by dentists as a cutting tool, and they take the place of a scalpel or electrosurgery without risking discomfort or infection that those tools do.
Hygienists can use the laser in conjunction with SRP, better known as periodontal therapy (PT) and periodontal maintenance, as well as for lesions, hemostasis, or desensitizing.
Always check your State Practice Act to see how your state allows you to use your laser, and what is required for any training. Even if your state doesn’t require training or if it's been a few years since you have updated your laser skills, it would be beneficial for you to take a refresher course.
What codes do we use for lasers?
As mentioned earlier, there are no codes that are just for lasers. We need to use existing codes that we have access to. Some of these codes can be D4341, D4342, D4910 for perio, and D9910 for desensitizing.
Doctors can use codes for gingivectomy, recontouring, etc. Remember, it’s the procedure that we charge for, not the tool to complete the task.
Made-up office codes for other procedures for office tracking are always acceptable; just make sure you are not going against the insurance plans that your doctor has contracted with.
What do we charge for lasers?
Most offices will add $50–$75 per hour of therapy to the existing codes. Notice I didn’t say quadrant or sextant. In our practice, we complete what we can do in one hour of therapy, or we will lower our production if we need more time due to the amount of infection.
Treatment plan according to how many appointments you will need to complete the procedures. Herpetic lesions or aphthous ulcers usually run anywhere from $50–$100. Our office charges $95, but if a lesion recurs in the same area, there is no additional charge for the next year. Of course, proper documentation is always needed to keep track of this. Otherwise, most offices still charge the same fee that they were charging, just using a laser instead of the tools they were using in the past.
How do we market the laser?
Market your laser anyway you can! Social media is one of the best ways, but we have also seen great results from fliers and brochures that are available in-office to hand out to our patients.
Take the opportunity to discuss and educate your patient at every opportunity. Show documents from procedures that you have done and share your success.
Conclusion
Lasers continue to advance, and there is more and more information that continues to be brought to everyone’s attention. Please do your research on how lasers can be used and get properly trained and educated. This way you won’t have expectations that are unrealistic and can easily obtain your goals for the laser.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Clinical Insights newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe.
