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Corporate Profile: Lares Research Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, Editorial Director Dentaltown Magazine

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The Lares Research Management Team leads a staff of 70 employees
Staying on the cutting edge of dental technology takes a lot of determination, patience, care and foresight — all of which Lares Research has in spades. From its humble beginnings as a medical and electronic components manufacturer in 1956, Lares Research found its niche in the dental market through creating high-speed handpieces. Continuous innovation and technological enhancements allowed the company to become one of the leading producers of dental handpieces in the United States and abroad. Dentaltown Magazine recently interviewed Lares Research President Craig Lares about the company's evolution, new advancements in high-speed handpiece technology, and the company's most recent venture into hard- and soft-tissue lasers.

by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD • Editorial Director • Dentaltown Magazine

How did Lares Research get started in the dental handpiece market?
Craig Lares: Lares Research began 52 years ago as a microprecision machine shop producing components for the growing medical, electronics and defense industries of the San Francisco bay area and Silicon Valley. In the early 1970s, Lares became a subcontractor for the first air-bearing high-speed handpiece company, and in the process gained a valuable understanding of the dental handpiece market. The founders saw how well their micro-precision manufacturing expertise fit the dental handpiece market and in 1979 Lares introduced a patented breakthrough in dental handpiece technology, the Lares 557 high-speed handpiece.

What key innovations has Lares Research brought to the handpiece market?
Lares: Technologically, Lares was the first manufacturer to truly miniaturize the high-speed handpiece head while simultaneously boosting cutting power in the late 70s with the Lares 557 high-speed handpiece. This improved both access and visibility in the oral cavity. With the introduction of the 557, Lares also dramatically decreased the weight of the high-speed handpiece and introduced a degree of precision (machining tolerances and concentricity) that had been unheard of previously.

What was your motivation for adding lasers to your product line in 1997?
Lares: As a privately held multi-generational family business, Lares has been able to think long term about the future of the dental market. Lares defined itself as being in the "the oral tissue surgery business," not "the dental drill business." We viewed hard-tissue lasers as simply the next generation of dental handpieces, and we saw the convergence of both hard and soft oral tissue surgery technology in a single device: the all-tissue dental laser. We offer that convergent device today, the PowerLase AT all-tissue laser, and it provides dentists a miraculous transformation of their practices and their patients' dental experience. For me personally, and for our laser sales reps, it is extraordinarily rewarding to hear from dentists how this laser has changed their lives and their patients' lives for the better, and how they are so thrilled to have lived long enough to experience such a wonderful advancement.

Do you think it has taken a long time for lasers to be accepted into the dental market?
Lares: It has indeed taken a long time for lasers to be accepted in the dental market. With the decrease in the cost of soft-tissue-only lasers in recent years, adoption of this technology has blossomed. Hard tissue has been slower; there were many issues with enamel cutting speed, product reliability, and sensitivity without anesthesia. Our current all-tissue laser offering has conquered all these issues and our customers are incredibly pleased. Word is getting out that the technology has finally arrived and that should drive accelerated adoption moving forward.

Lares Research sells directly to dentists. What are the benefits to this approach?
Lares: We have been factory direct since 1982 and we serve about 11,000 dentists nationwide in that manner. Selling our products directly to dentists in the United States keeps us as close as possible to our customers. They can call our toll-free number and tell us what they like or dislike about our products and services without any filtering or lag time in communication. It also enhances the customer ownership experience because dentists or their staffs can immediately speak to experts on our products whether they are buying a new product, having a product repaired or troubleshooting. They can even order direct from us, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through our online store. Finally, direct distribution allows us to offer tremendous value in terms of a factory-direct price on a great product without distributor markups.
"We listen carefully to our customers and are always mindful of how we can
apply new technology to improve dental handpieces and lasers."
— Lares Research President
Craig Lares 		 

Describe your process for developing new products. Is there still opportunity for innovation in dental handpieces?
Lares: We listen carefully to our customers and are always mindful of how we can apply new technology to improve dental handpieces and lasers. However, the most important input comes directly from our dentist customers and our distributors overseas. We listen carefully to what improvements they would like to see and then formulate our product plans accordingly. There is still opportunity for innovation in dental handpieces. It never ends!

How should dentists decide if they want to purchase a hard- or soft-tissue laser?
Lares: First of all, the decision should be driven by what the dentist wants to accomplish with the laser. Anesthetic-free cavity preps and osseous surgical procedures of course require a hard-tissue laser such as our Erbium Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) PowerLase AT or HT. If interest is limited to soft-tissue procedures only, then a Neodimium Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) such as our PowerLase ST6 will do the job. However, Er:YAG is probably the best overall wavelength for both hard and soft tissue; it does a great job on everything from cavity preparations to gingivectomies. It's just a matter of selecting different procedures on the control panel of a single laser. Finally, if laser treatment of periodontal disease is the focus, Nd:YAG is the ticket. Our PowerLase AT combination Er:YAG/Nd:YAG laser covers all soft- and hard-tissue applications beautifully in one system, so its just a matter of proper training. The sky is the limit on clinical applications. Find a supplier that offers a money back guarantee (such as Lares Research) and try both hard and soft tissue to find what works for your practice.

Does Lares Research have any new products in the pipeline that you can preview for our readers?
Lares: We have been working for some years now on the development of a dark blue laser for the selective removal of calculus from the root surface. It removes calculus much more effectively and comfortably than an ultrasonic scaler, without any damage to the underlying healthy tooth structure. It's still a few years off, but has exciting potential.

What are your plans for the future?
Lares: We plan to broaden our product line in the years ahead, while staying focused on oral tissue cutting technology.

How would you describe your market position to someone learning about your company for the first time?
Lares: Lares is one of the leading suppliers of handpieces and lasers in the American dental market, and a leading supplier of dental handpieces worldwide.

How would one of your customers describe your company?
Lares: There are two unique things that customers mention about dealing with our company. The first is that we offer an excellent level of service delivered by our very experienced, dedicated and empowered customer service staff. The second is the high level of expertise these customer service people have and how quickly they can provide the answers dentists need about our products. An example is the follow-up phone call we make after every handpiece purchase. We call to make sure everything is working properly and that the appropriate dentist's staff is familiar with our handpiece maintenance requirements so they get long, trouble-free service.

What is your approach to training new customers? Is training included with the purchase of a new laser?
Lares: Our approach to laser training is a combination of multimedia computer training followed by in-office coaching by an experienced laser clinician while the new laser dentist treats patients. This way the dentist can wade through the "classroom" learning at his or her own pace and be well prepared to absorb the clinician coaching. This training is always included with the purchase of a Lares laser. Most dentists were not educated on lasers in dental school and excellent training is crucial to getting the most out of a laser investment.

Do you think there will be a time when all dental offices use electric handpieces? What are the benefits of this technology for dentists?
Lares: Our experience with electric handpieces has been disappointing. Our customers haven't taken well to electrics due to their size and weight, probably because "super light weight" has always been a Lares high-speed handpiece trademark. The 757, our newest full head size high-speed handpiece, has so much cutting power and is so economical compared to electrics that our customers shun the electrics. The benefits of electrics are a very stable cut, a less annoying lower frequency sound, and tons of cutting power. If the size and weight negatives can eventually be overcome, then every office will have one.

What is the one thing about Lares Research that dentists ought to know?
Lares: Our integrity is probably the thing of greatest value to our customers. My father's name and my name are on the front of the building and on our advertising and I take that seriously. Throughout our careers we've both tried to treat every dentist we have served fairly and professionally. After 52 years of consistency and continuity, that philosophy is deeply engrained in our staff and customers notice that difference when they do business with us.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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