Premier Laser Says Dental Tool Has U.S. Approval

Premier Laser Systems Inc. said Wednesday that federal regulators approved the sale of a portable dental laser that should boost financial results significantly.

The laser, which resembles a portable television, is much smaller and lighter than competing models, said Daniel Caruso, vice president of marketing and sales. It’s used for gum surgery, removal of diseased tissue, and other procedures. The list price is $19,500, compared to rivals’ prices that range as high as $35,000, he added. The company has received orders for 15 of the items so far.

Caruso said the company expects sales for the company’s fiscal year ending March 31 to be slightly above the $2.1 million it recorded two years ago. Sales fell last year to $1.3 million when the company encountered legal difficulties involving a supplier, he said.

The company lost $3.8 million last year, $3.1 million the year before, and expects a loss for the current year, he added.