Dr. Mary Doornbos, DMD, of Parkside Pediatric Dentistry in Marietta, GA, didn’t plan to invest in an all-tissue laser. As a pediatric dentist with a strong clinical interest in airway health and tethered oral tissues, her first foray into laser dentistry was focused entirely on soft tissue.
“As pediatric dentists we’re in the mouth more than almost any other provider, which gives us a responsibility,” she says. “Tongue- and lip-ties are about more than releasing tissue — you’ve got to think about the whole care team: airway, myofunctional therapy, speech therapy, lactation consultants. I wanted to play my part well.”
But as her confidence in performing procedures with her soft tissue laser grew, so did her curiosity about hard tissue applications. “I hadn’t really planned on performing restorations with a laser, but once I got comfortable with soft tissue, I started to think, ‘Why not?’”
What ultimately drove her decision wasn’t technology for its own sake, it was the opportunity to dramatically improve the experience for children and parents. Dr. Doornbos’ practice philosophy is simple: treat every child the way she would want her own to be treated.
“With numbing, the shot isn’t usually the hardest part — we can get them through it. It’s the after. The kids leave and the only thing they remember is their lip feeling huge for an hour and a half,” explains Dr. Doornbos. “When they need two, three visits, that numb feeling becomes what they dread — and suddenly it’s a negative experience. Solea lets us honestly say, ‘No shots today.’ The parents relax. The children come back without fear. It changes everything.”
Solea gives dentists the ability to prioritize and triage care in a more patient-centered way. Dr. Doornbos now performs virtually all primary tooth restorations without numbing, minimizing the number of visits required for multi-quadrant treatments.
“With Solea, I can efficiently treat multiple areas of the mouth without the need to numb each quadrant,” she explains. “So, if one tooth really needs priority or the parents want to be conservative for financial reasons, I can tackle what’s most urgent first — all in one visit. That reduces follow-ups, opens chair time, and helps us move through our waiting list faster without compromising care.”
Since integrating Solea in 2022, Dr. Doornbos’ practice has experienced sustained growth that far surpasses typical year-over-year gains in established pediatric practices. In the first year after integrating Solea, Dr. Doornbos’ practice achieved +20.4% growth, followed by an additional +13.6% in the second year. Overall production increased by 36.8% in her first two years with Solea—a level of sustained growth that greatly exceeds industry benchmarks.
This performance reflects more than just numbers; it underscores how Solea has elevated the practice’s efficiency, expanded its procedural capabilities, and elevated the overall patient experience. Parents recognize the difference, the team operates more smoothly, and patients leave happier. The result is a thriving, growing practice built on trust, comfort, and innovation.
Solea has become integral to how Dr. Doornbos practices. She uses it every day and values its ability to deliver consistent results without compromise.
“I’ve heard negative things about other all-tissue lasers, and I didn’t want something that would just end up in the corner. Solea is dependable, and I know the analgesic, or numbing, effect will be there when I need it,” she said.
She also noted that her team has embraced the technology and sees it as an added level of service. “They’re proud to be part of a practice that offers Solea. It really sets us apart.”
Her advice for other pediatric dentists weighing Solea against soft-tissue-only lasers is clear:
“If you want to grow, learn new things, and truly elevate the way you serve families, Solea is worth it. It reenergized my day-to-day dentistry— and it’s a gift to the parents and children we’re privileged to serve.”