Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail)																											9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 14, 2018 Day $ / shares shares	Nov. 09, 2018 Day $ / shares shares	Sep. 27, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 21, 2018 $ / shares shares	Sep. 10, 2018 $ / shares shares	Jun. 15, 2018 BoardMember $ / shares shares	May 14, 2018 $ / shares shares	Jan. 26, 2018 $ / shares shares	Jan. 25, 2018 $ / shares shares	Nov. 07, 2017 $ / shares shares	Nov. 01, 2017 $ / shares shares	Oct. 02, 2017 $ / shares shares	Sep. 12, 2017 $ / shares shares	Sep. 11, 2017 $ / shares shares	May 10, 2017 $ / shares shares	May 09, 2017 $ / shares shares	Apr. 19, 2017 VicePresident $ / shares shares	Mar. 27, 2017 SeniorVicePresidentChiefFinancialOfficer $ / shares shares	Feb. 06, 2017 $ / shares shares	Oct. 03, 2016 $ / shares shares	Sep. 15, 2016 $ / shares shares	Aug. 29, 2016 $ / shares shares	May 06, 2016 $ / shares shares	Apr. 18, 2016 VicePresident $ / shares shares	Mar. 10, 2016 $ / shares shares	Feb. 26, 2016 $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares	May 10, 2018 shares	May 09, 2018 shares	Mar. 06, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares	Apr. 18, 2017 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 shares
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares authorized																												1,000,000	1,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued																												0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding																												0	0
Common stock, shares issued																												21,072,491	20,468,000
Common stock, shares outstanding																												21,072,491	20,468,000
Common stock, shares authorized																												40,000,000	40,000,000		40,000,000	200,000,000
Dividend Declared | $																												$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Number of newly hired vice presidents | VicePresident																	1							2
Stock options outstanding																												1,623,000	1,347,000	1,322,000					898,000
Number of new board members. | BoardMember						2
Number of senior vice president and chief financial officer | SeniorVicePresidentChiefFinancialOfficer																		1
Stock Options
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted																												0
Stock options outstanding																												328,500
Stock options cancelled																												124,000
Stock Options | Employees
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted									360,000										122,200
Awards valued per share | $ / shares									$ 2.11										$ 7.75
Options expiration period									10 years										10 years
Options vesting description																												The options vest ratably over the 36-month period, commencing on February 25, 2018
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period									36 months
Stock option activity vesting commencement date									Feb. 25, 2018
Stock Options | Existing Employees
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted																			117,200
Stock Options | Existing Employees | Vest on First Anniversary of Award Date
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																			50.00%
Stock Options | Existing Employees | Vest on Second Anniversary of Award Date
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																			50.00%
Stock Options | New Employees
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Options vesting description																												for the 5,000 options awarded to new employees, 25% vest on February 6, 2018 and the remainder vest ratably over the 36-month period, commencing on March 6, 2018
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period																			36 months
Stock option activity vesting commencement date																			Mar. 06, 2018
Stock Options | New Employees | Vest on February 6, 2018
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted																			5,000
Stock option activity vesting commencement date																			Feb. 06, 2018
Vesting rights percentage																			25.00%
Stock Options | Mr. Clark
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Additional compensation expense | $																													$ 44,000
Stock Options | Mr. Moll
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Additional compensation expense | $																													$ 22,000
Stock Options | Vice Presidents
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted																	80,000
Awards valued per share | $ / shares																	$ 5.85
Options expiration period																	10 years
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period																	36 months
Stock option activity vesting commencement date																	Mar. 13, 2018
Percentage of time based vesting for options																	75.00%
Stock Options | Vice Presidents | Awards Vesting on March 13, 2018
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																	25.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | Employees
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted										85,200
Awards valued per share | $ / shares										$ 3.00
Options expiration period										10 years
Non Qualified Stock Options | Employees | Vest on First Anniversary of Award Date
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage										50.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | Employees | Vest Commencing on Thirteen Month to Twenty-Four Month
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage										50.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | Existing Employees
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted																										37,000
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period																										48 months
Non Qualified Stock Options | New Employees
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted																										22,000
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period																										36 months
Non Qualified Stock Options | New Employees | Vest on First Anniversary of Award Date
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																										25.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | Non-Employee Directors
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted															105,105								119,551
Awards valued per share | $ / shares															$ 6.05								$ 7.05
Options expiration period															10 years								10 years
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period															12 months								12 months
Stock option activity vesting commencement date															Jun. 10, 2017								Jun. 06, 2016
Non Qualified Stock Options | Dr. Lord
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted													13,178	13,077
Awards valued per share | $ / shares													$ 3.05	$ 2.70
Options expiration period													10 years	10 years
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period													8 months	8 months
Stock option activity vesting commencement date													Oct. 10, 2017	Oct. 10, 2017
Non Qualified Stock Options | Dr. Lanman
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted											27,066,000
Awards valued per share | $ / shares											$ 3.75
Options expiration period											10 years
Non Qualified Stock Options | Employees and Consultants
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted																										59,000
Awards valued per share | $ / shares																										$ 4.30
Options expiration period																										10 years
Non Qualified Stock Options | Vice Presidents
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted																				25,000	50,000			65,000
Awards valued per share | $ / shares																				$ 8.60	$ 8.90			$ 7.15
Options expiration period																				10 years	10 years			10 years
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period																					36 months			36 months
Stock option activity vesting commencement date																				Oct. 03, 2017	Sep. 15, 2017			Apr. 18, 2017
Percentage of time based vesting for options																					75.00%			75.00%
Award vesting date																					Sep. 15, 2017
Percentage of performance based vesting in options granted																				50.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | Vice Presidents | Awards Vesting on April 18, 2017
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																								25.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | Vice Presidents | Awards Vesting on September 15, 2017
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																					25.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | Vice Presidents | Awards Vesting on October 3, 2017
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																				25.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | Vice Presidents | Time Based Vesting Commencing October 3, 2017
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period																				36 months
Stock option activity vesting commencement date																				Oct. 03, 2017
Percentage of time based vesting for options																				75.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | Senior Director
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted																						12,000
Awards valued per share | $ / shares																						$ 8.25
Options expiration period																						10 years
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period																						48 months
Stock option activity vesting commencement date																						Sep. 29, 2016
Non Qualified Stock Options | Senior Director | Awards Vesting on September 29, 2016
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																						50.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | President And Chief Executive Officer
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted																														280,000
Options expiration period																													10 years
Range of exercise price, lower limit | $ / shares																														$ 7.20
Range of exercise price, upper limit | $ / shares																														$ 7.25
Non Qualified Stock Options | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted												120,000						120,000
Awards valued per share | $ / shares												$ 2.95						$ 6.40
Options expiration period												10 years						10 years
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period												36 months						36 months
Stock option activity vesting commencement date												Oct. 02, 2018						Mar. 27, 2018
Percentage of time based vesting for options												75.00%						75.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | Awards Vesting on March 27, 2018
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																		25.00%
Non Qualified Stock Options | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | Awards Vesting on October 2, 2018
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage												25.00%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares																			$ 7.75
Granted																			16,000									2,836,000	470,000	181,000
Vested in period																												604,000	81,000	97,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Vested on March 14, 2017
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Award vesting date																			Mar. 14, 2017
Vested in period																			6,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Vested on September 14, 2017
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Award vesting date																			Sep. 14, 2017
Vested in period																			4,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Vest on May 10, 2018
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Award vesting date																			May 10, 2018
Vested in period																			6,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares							$ 1.45
Options vesting description																												These awards were valued at $1.45 per share, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date, and were fully vested on the grant date
Granted							10,127
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Non-Employee Directors
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted															35,032
Awards valued per share | $ / shares															$ 6.05
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Non-Employee Directors | Vest on May 10, 2018
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Award vesting date															May 10, 2018
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Non-Employee Directors | Vest on May 6, 2017
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares																							$ 7.05
Award vesting date																							May 06, 2017
Granted																							49,750
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Mr. Clark
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Additional compensation expense | $																													$ 12,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Mr. Moll
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Additional compensation expense | $																													$ 10,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees and Consultants
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares																										$ 4.30
Granted																										28,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees and Consultants | Vest on First Anniversary of Award Date
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																										25.00%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees and Consultants | Vest on July 1, 2016
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares																										$ 4.30
Granted																										77,700
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees and Consultants | Vest on February 26, 2018
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																										25.00%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees and Consultants | Vest on February 26, 2019
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																										25.00%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees and Consultants | Vest on February 26, 2020
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																										25.00%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares																			$ 7.75							$ 4.30
Granted																			200,000							11,904
Maximum performance bonus awarded | $																											$ 100,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vest on February 6, 2019
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Award vesting date																			Feb. 06, 2019
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vest on February 6, 2020
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Award vesting date																			Feb. 06, 2020
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vest on February 6, 2021
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Award vesting date																			Feb. 06, 2021
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vesting on March 30, 2016
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																										50.00%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vesting on February 18, 2017
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																										50.00%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Boards
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares							$ 1.45
Options vesting description																												398,275 shares to certain Board members of the Company. These awards were valued at $1.45 per share, the closing price of BIOLASE common stock on the grant date, and fully vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued service through the applicable vesting date.
Granted							398,275
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | New Board Members
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares						$ 1.25
Options vesting description																												These awards were valued at $1.25 per share, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date, and vest fully on May 9, 2019
Granted						155,000
Award vesting date						May 09, 2019
2002 Stock Incentive Plan
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Common stock authorized for issuance																												3,110,000
Common stock issued pursuant to options exercised																												961,982
Options and restricted stock units outstanding																												1,724,264
Options available for future grants																												0
2002 Stock Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares								$ 2.00
Granted								40,000
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Common stock authorized for issuance																												3,271,101
Options and restricted stock units outstanding																												1,875,801
Options available for future grants																												1,395,300
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Vest on September 10, 2019
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage				50.00%
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Vest on September 10, 2020
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage				50.00%
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares				$ 2.06
Options vesting description																												(i) 50% of 24,271 shares vest on September 10, 2019 and the remaining 50% vest on September 10, 2020; and (ii) 6,117 shares fully vest on March 15, 2019, subject to continued service through the applicable vesting dates.
Granted				30,388,000
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees | Vest on September 10, 2019
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Award vesting date				Sep. 10, 2019
Granted				24,271,000
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees | Vest on September 10, 2020
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Award vesting date				Sep. 10, 2020
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees | Vest on March 15, 2019
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Award vesting date				Mar. 15, 2019
Granted				6,117,000
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares					$ 2.17
Options vesting description					Vesting periods for the awards are as follows: (i) 54% of the total grant is subject to time vesting with 33% vesting on August 7, 2019 and the remaining 67% vesting ratably semi-annually over the two-year period commencing on February 7, 2020; and (ii) 46% of the awards is subject to specific 2019, 2020 and 2021 performance criteria, with vesting upon satisfaction of the applicable performance criteria, subject to continued service through the applicable vesting dates
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period					2 years
Stock option activity vesting commencement date					Feb. 07, 2020
Award vesting date					Aug. 07, 2019
Granted					650,000
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vest Percentage
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage					54.00%
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vest on August 7, 2019
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage					33.00%
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vesting Commence on February 7, 2020
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage					67.00%
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vesting Awards Subject To Specific 2019, 2020 and 2021 Performance Criteria
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage					46.00%
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Boards Employees And Consultants
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares							$ 1.45
Options vesting description																												These awards were valued at $1.45 per share, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date, and vest 40% on December 31, 2018 and 60% on December 31, 2019, subject to continued service through the applicable vesting dates.
Granted							1,193,850
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Boards Employees And Consultants | Vest on First Anniversary of Award Date
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage							40.00%
Award vesting date							Dec. 31, 2018
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Boards Employees And Consultants | Vest on December 31, 2019
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage							60.00%
Award vesting date							Dec. 31, 2019
April 18, 2016 Compensation Plan | Non Qualified Stock Options | Vice Presidents
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options outstanding																														48,750
August 29, 2016 Compensation Plan | Non Qualified Stock Options | Senior Director
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options outstanding																														12,000
September 15, 2016 Compensation Plan | Non Qualified Stock Options | Vice Presidents
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options outstanding																														50,000
October 3, 2016 Compensation Plan | Non Qualified Stock Options | Vice Presidents
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options outstanding																														25,000
2017 Compensation Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees and Consultants
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted																100,000
Awards valued per share | $ / shares																$ 6.10
Options vesting description																												(i) one-half of the total grant is subject to time vesting with 50% vesting on May 9, 2018 and the remaining 50% vesting on May 9, 2019, and (ii) one-half of the total grant is subject to specific 2017 and 2018 performance criteria, with vesting upon satisfaction of the applicable performance criteria.
Percentage of time based vesting for options																50.00%
2017 Compensation Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees and Consultants | Vesting on May 9, 2018
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Vesting rights percentage																50.00%
Award vesting date																May 09, 2018
2017 Compensation Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees and Consultants | Vesting on May 9, 2019
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Award vesting date																May 09, 2019
Two Thousand Fifteen Compensation Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Chief Financial Officer
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards valued per share | $ / shares																									$ 6.15
Granted																									14,000
SWK Warrants, DPG Warrants and Western Alliance Warrants
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Warrants issued to purchase shares of common stock																												708,212
Exercise price of warrants | $ / shares																												$ 1.40
Original Western Alliance Warrant
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Exercise price of warrants | $ / shares																																	$ 2.35
Western Alliance Warrant
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Exercise price of warrants | $ / shares			$ 2.13
Warrants expire date			Sep. 27, 2028
SWK Warrants
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Warrants issued to purchase shares of common stock		372,023
Exercise price of warrants | $ / shares		$ 1.34
Number of trading days of average closing price of common stock | Day		10
Warrants expire date		Nov. 09, 2026
SWK Warrants
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Warrants issued to purchase shares of common stock	279,851
Exercise price of warrants | $ / shares	$ 1.34
Number of trading days of average closing price of common stock | Day	10
Warrants expire date	Nov. 09, 2026
2017 Private Placement | 2017 Warrants
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Warrants issued to purchase shares of common stock																																		785,174
Exercise price of warrants | $ / shares																																		$ 9.00
Maximum
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares authorized																												1,000,000
Maximum | Non Qualified Stock Options | Employees
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period										24 months
Maximum | Non Qualified Stock Options | President And Chief Executive Officer
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period																													4 years
Maximum | Original Western Alliance Warrant
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Warrants issued to purchase shares of common stock equal value | $																																	$ 120,000
Maximum | Western Alliance Warrant
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Warrants issued to purchase shares of common stock equal value | $			$ 120,000
Minimum [Member] | Non Qualified Stock Options | Employees
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period										13 months
Minimum [Member] | Non Qualified Stock Options | President And Chief Executive Officer
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting period																													2 years
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock [Member]
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares authorized																												500,000