Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of BIOLASE and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and have been prepared on a basis consistent with the December 31, 2018 audited consolidated financial statements and include all material adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments and the elimination of all material intercompany transactions and balances, necessary to fairly present the information set forth therein. These unaudited, interim, consolidated financial statements do not include all the footnotes, presentations, and disclosures normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete consolidated financial statements. The consolidated results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2018, included in BIOLASE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 8, 2019 (the “2018 Form 10-K”).
Liquidity and Management's Plans	Liquidity and Management’s Plans The Company incurred a loss from operations and a net loss, and used cash in operating activities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. The Company’s recurring losses, level of cash used in operations, and potential need for additional capital, along with uncertainties surrounding the Company’s ability to raise additional capital, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. As of March 31, 2019, the Company was not in compliance with certain of its loan covenants relating to the SWK Loan (as defined below). In May 2019, SWK Funding, LLC granted the Company a waiver of such covenants. On May 7, 2019, the Company entered into an amendment of its Credit Agreement with SWK Funding, LLC to increase the total loan commitment in the SWK Loan from $12.5 million to $15.0 million, to revise certain of the financial covenants and to issue additional warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock. On September 30, 2019, the Company entered into a second amendment of its Credit Agreement with SWK Funding, LLC, to provide for a revolving loan facility, secured by a first lien security interest in the Company’s inventory and accounts receivable. On November 6, 2019, the Company entered into a third amendment to its Credit Agreement to further modify its loan covenants. See Notes 9 and 15 for additional information. On October 28, 2019, BIOLASE, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Pacific Mercantile Bank, as lender (“Lender”), which provides for a revolving line of credit (the “PMB Loan”) in a maximum principal amount not to exceed the lesser of (i) $3 million or (ii) the sum of 90% of the Eligible Accounts (as defined in the Loan Agreement) plus 75% of the Eligible Inventory (as defined in the Loan Agreement, and subject to certain limitations set forth therein); provided that the maximum principal amount of the PMB Loan may be reduced from time to time in the Lender’s good faith business judgment as set forth in the Loan Agreement. Borrowings under the PMB Loan may be used for working capital. The PMB Loan matures on October 28, 2021, unless earlier terminated. See Note 15 for additional information. On October 29, 2019, the Company successfully consummated an underwritten public offering of BIOLASE common stock and a concurrent private placement of BIOLASE Series E Participating Convertible Preferred Stock, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $7.8 million after deducting underwriter discounts and other fees and expenses. On November 5, 2019, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option and the Company received approximately $0.6 million in additional proceeds from the sale of 1.1 million additional shares. See Note 15 for additional information. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had working capital of approximately $9.2 million. The Company’s principal sources of liquidity as of September 30, 2019 consisted of approximately $2.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and $8.5 million of accounts receivable. In order for the Company to continue operations beyond the next 12 months and be able to discharge its liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business, it must sell its products directly to end users and through distributors, establish profitable operations through increased sales, decrease expenses, generate cash from operations, or obtain additional funds when needed. The Company intends to improve its financial condition and ultimately improve its financial results by increasing revenues through expansion of its product offerings, continuing to expand and develop its field sales force and distributor relationships both domestically and internationally, forming strategic arrangements within the dental and medical industries, educating dental and medical patients as to the benefits of its advanced medical technologies, and reducing expenses. Additional capital requirements may depend on many factors, including, among other things, continued losses, the rate at which the Company’s business grows, demands for working capital, manufacturing capacity, and any acquisitions that the Company may pursue. From time to time, the Company could be required, or may otherwise attempt, to raise capital, through either equity or debt offerings, or enter into an additional line of credit facility.
Reverse Stock Split	Reverse Stock Split Except as the context otherwise requires, all share numbers and share price amounts (including exercise prices and closing market prices) contained in the unaudited financial statements and notes thereto reflect the one-for-five reverse stock split (“Reverse Stock Split”) effectuated by the Company on May 10, 2018. See Note 4 below for additional information.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of these unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Significant estimates in these unaudited consolidated financial statements include allowances on accounts receivable, inventory, and deferred taxes, as well as estimates for accrued warranty expenses, goodwill and the ability of goodwill to be realized, revenue deferrals, effects of stock-based compensation and warrants, contingent liabilities, and the provision or benefit for income taxes. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may differ materially from those estimates.
Critical Accounting Policies	Critical Accounting Policies Information with respect to the Company’s critical accounting policies, which management believes could have the most significant effect on the Company’s reported results and require subjective or complex judgments by management is contained in the 2018 Form 10-K. Management believes that there have been no significant changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 in the Company’s critical accounting policies from those disclosed in the 2018 Form 10-K.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal market (or, if none exists, the most advantageous market) for the specific asset or liability at the measurement date (referred to as the “exit price”). The fair value is based on assumptions that market participants would use, including a consideration of non-performance risk. Under the accounting guidance for fair value hierarchy, there are three levels of measurement inputs. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable due to little or no corroborating market data. The Company’s financial instruments, consisting of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, liability for patent litigation settlement, and the SWK Loan as discussed in Note 9, approximate fair value because of the liquid or short-term nature of these items.
Concentration of Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk and Foreign Currency Exchange Rate	Concentration of Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk and Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Financial instruments which potentially expose the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and trade accounts receivable. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash with established commercial banks. At times, balances may exceed federally insured limits. To minimize the risk associated with trade accounts receivable, management performs ongoing credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition and maintains relationships with the Company’s customers that allow management to monitor current changes in business operations so the Company can respond as needed. The Company does not, generally, require customers to provide collateral before it sells them its products. However, the Company has required certain distributors to make prepayments for significant purchases of products. Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars, including sales to international distributors. Only a small portion of its revenue and expenses is denominated in foreign currencies, principally the Euro and Indian Rupee. The Company’s foreign currency expenditures primarily consist of the cost of maintaining offices, consulting services, and employee-related costs. During the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not enter into any hedging contracts. Future fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar may affect the price competitiveness of the Company’s products outside the U.S.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements Changes to GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) in the form of accounting standards updates (“ASUs”) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification. The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined not to be applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations. Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the FASB established ASU Topic 842 – Leases, by issuing ASU Topic No. 2016-02 (“Topic 842”), which requires lessees to recognize lease on-balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU Topic 2018-11 – Targeted Improvements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (“ROU”) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the statement of operations. The Company adopted Topic 842 in the first quarter of 2019 utilizing the modified retrospective transition method and a cumulative effect adjustment at the beginning of the first quarter of 2019. The Company has elected the package of practical expedients, which allows the Company not to reassess (1) whether any expired or existing contracts as of the adoption date are or contain a lease, (2) lease classification for any expired or existing leases as of the adoption date, and (3) initial direct costs for any existing leases as of the adoption date. The Company did not elect to apply the hindsight practical expedient when determining lease term and assessing impairment of the right-to-use assets. The adoption of Topic 842 resulted in the recognition of right-of use assets of approximately $0.8 million after a $0.2 million adjustment for deferred rent, and lease liabilities for operating leases of approximately $1.0 million, and no cumulative effect adjustment on retained earnings on its unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets nor material impact to its unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss in the period of adoption. Right-of-use assets are included in Other assets, and lease liabilities are included in Accrued liabilities and in Other liabilities in the unaudited consolidated balance sheet for the period ended September 30, 2019. See Note 10 for additional information. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In June 2016, the FASB issued a new standard to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology under current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The Company will be required to use a forward-looking expected credit loss model for accounts receivables, loans, and other financial instruments. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will also be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a reduction in the amortized cost basis of the securities. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020. The Company is evaluating the impact of this standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, including accounting policies, processes, and systems.
Income Tax Uncertainties	Accounting for uncertainty in income taxes prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The Company has elected to classify interest and penalties as a component of its income tax provision. With respect to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, including related estimates of penalties and interest, the Company did not record a liability for unrecognized tax benefits for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. The Company does not expect any changes to its unrecognized tax benefit for the next 12 months that would materially impact its consolidated financial statements.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of BIOLASE and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and have been prepared on a basis consistent with the December 31, 2018 audited consolidated financial statements and include all material adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments and the elimination of all material intercompany transactions and balances, necessary to fairly present the information set forth therein. These unaudited, interim, consolidated financial statements do not include all the footnotes, presentations, and disclosures normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2018, included in BIOLASE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 8, 2019 (the “2018 Form 10-K”).

Liquidity and Management's Plans

Liquidity and Management’s Plans

The Company incurred a loss from operations and a net loss, and used cash in operating activities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. The Company’s recurring losses, level of cash used in operations, and potential need for additional capital, along with uncertainties surrounding the Company’s ability to raise additional capital, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

As of March 31, 2019, the Company was not in compliance with certain of its loan covenants relating to the SWK Loan (as defined below). In May 2019, SWK Funding, LLC granted the Company a waiver of such covenants. On May 7, 2019, the Company entered into an amendment of its Credit Agreement with SWK Funding, LLC to increase the total loan commitment in the SWK Loan from $12.5 million to $15.0 million, to revise certain of the financial covenants and to issue additional warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock. On September 30, 2019, the Company entered into a second amendment of its Credit Agreement with SWK Funding, LLC, to provide for a revolving loan facility, secured by a first lien security interest in the Company’s inventory and accounts receivable. On November 6, 2019, the Company entered into a third amendment to its Credit Agreement to further modify its loan covenants. See Notes 9 and 15 for additional information.

On October 28, 2019, BIOLASE, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Pacific Mercantile Bank, as lender (“Lender”), which provides for a revolving line of credit (the “PMB Loan”) in a maximum principal amount not to exceed the lesser of (i) $3 million or (ii) the sum of 90% of the Eligible Accounts (as defined in the Loan Agreement) plus 75% of the Eligible Inventory (as defined in the Loan Agreement, and subject to certain limitations set forth therein); provided that the maximum principal amount of the PMB Loan may be reduced from time to time in the Lender’s good faith business judgment as set forth in the Loan Agreement. Borrowings under the PMB Loan may be used for working capital. The PMB Loan matures on October 28, 2021, unless earlier terminated. See Note 15 for additional information.

On October 29, 2019, the Company successfully consummated an underwritten public offering of BIOLASE common stock and a concurrent private placement of BIOLASE Series E Participating Convertible Preferred Stock, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $7.8 million after deducting underwriter discounts and other fees and expenses. On November 5, 2019, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option and the Company received approximately $0.6 million in additional proceeds from the sale of 1.1 million additional shares. See Note 15 for additional information.

As of September 30, 2019, the Company had working capital of approximately $9.2 million. The Company’s principal sources of liquidity as of September 30, 2019 consisted of approximately $2.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and $8.5 million of accounts receivable.

In order for the Company to continue operations beyond the next 12 months and be able to discharge its liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business, it must sell its products directly to end users and through distributors, establish profitable operations through increased sales, decrease expenses, generate cash from operations, or obtain additional funds when needed. The Company intends to improve its financial condition and ultimately improve its financial results by increasing revenues through expansion of its product offerings, continuing to expand and develop its field sales force and distributor relationships both domestically and internationally, forming strategic arrangements within the dental and medical industries, educating dental and medical patients as to the benefits of its advanced medical technologies, and reducing expenses.

Additional capital requirements may depend on many factors, including, among other things, continued losses, the rate at which the Company’s business grows, demands for working capital, manufacturing capacity, and any acquisitions that the Company may pursue. From time to time, the Company could be required, or may otherwise attempt, to raise capital, through either equity or debt offerings, or enter into an additional line of credit facility.

Reverse Stock Split

Except as the context otherwise requires, all share numbers and share price amounts (including exercise prices and closing market prices) contained in the unaudited financial statements and notes thereto reflect the one-for-five reverse stock split (“Reverse Stock Split”) effectuated by the Company on May 10, 2018. See Note 4 below for additional information.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of these unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Significant estimates in these unaudited consolidated financial statements include allowances on accounts receivable, inventory, and deferred taxes, as well as estimates for accrued warranty expenses, goodwill and the ability of goodwill to be realized, revenue deferrals, effects of stock-based compensation and warrants, contingent liabilities, and the provision or benefit for income taxes. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may differ materially from those estimates.

Critical Accounting Policies

Information with respect to the Company’s critical accounting policies, which management believes could have the most significant effect on the Company’s reported results and require subjective or complex judgments by management is contained in the 2018 Form 10-K. Management believes that there have been no significant changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 in the Company’s critical accounting policies from those disclosed in the 2018 Form 10-K.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal market (or, if none exists, the most advantageous market) for the specific asset or liability at the measurement date (referred to as the “exit price”). The fair value is based on assumptions that market participants would use, including a consideration of non-performance risk. Under the accounting guidance for fair value hierarchy, there are three levels of measurement inputs. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable due to little or no corroborating market data.

The Company’s financial instruments, consisting of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, liability for patent litigation settlement, and the SWK Loan as discussed in Note 9, approximate fair value because of the liquid or short-term nature of these items.

Concentration of Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk and Foreign Currency Exchange Rate

Financial instruments which potentially expose the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and trade accounts receivable. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash with established commercial banks. At times, balances may exceed federally insured limits. To minimize the risk associated with trade accounts receivable, management performs ongoing credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition and maintains relationships with the Company’s customers that allow management to monitor current changes in business operations so the Company can respond as needed. The Company does not, generally, require customers to provide collateral before it sells them its products. However, the Company has required certain distributors to make prepayments for significant purchases of products.

Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars, including sales to international distributors. Only a small portion of its revenue and expenses is denominated in foreign currencies, principally the Euro and Indian Rupee. The Company’s foreign currency expenditures primarily consist of the cost of maintaining offices, consulting services, and employee-related costs. During the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not enter into any hedging contracts. Future fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar may affect the price competitiveness of the Company’s products outside the U.S.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Changes to GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) in the form of accounting standards updates (“ASUs”) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification.

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined not to be applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB established ASU Topic 842 – Leases, by issuing ASU Topic No. 2016-02 (“Topic 842”), which requires lessees to recognize lease on-balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU Topic 2018-11 – Targeted Improvements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (“ROU”) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the statement of operations.

The Company adopted Topic 842 in the first quarter of 2019 utilizing the modified retrospective transition method and a cumulative effect adjustment at the beginning of the first quarter of 2019. The Company has elected the package of practical expedients, which allows the Company not to reassess (1) whether any expired or existing contracts as of the adoption date are or contain a lease, (2) lease classification for any expired or existing leases as of the adoption date, and (3) initial direct costs for any existing leases as of the adoption date. The Company did not elect to apply the hindsight practical expedient when determining lease term and assessing impairment of the right-to-use assets. The adoption of Topic 842 resulted in the recognition of right-of use assets of approximately $0.8 million after a $0.2 million adjustment for deferred rent, and lease liabilities for operating leases of approximately $1.0 million, and no cumulative effect adjustment on retained earnings on its unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets nor material impact to its unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss in the period of adoption. Right-of-use assets are included in Other assets, and lease liabilities are included in Accrued liabilities and in Other liabilities in the unaudited consolidated balance sheet for the period ended September 30, 2019. See Note 10 for additional information.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the FASB issued a new standard to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology under current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The Company will be required to use a forward-looking expected credit loss model for accounts receivables, loans, and other financial instruments. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will also be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a reduction in the amortized cost basis of the securities. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020. The Company is evaluating the impact of this standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, including accounting policies, processes, and systems.

Income Tax Uncertainties

Accounting for uncertainty in income taxes prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The Company has elected to classify interest and penalties as a component of its income tax provision. With respect to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, including related estimates of penalties and interest, the Company did not record a liability for unrecognized tax benefits for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. The Company does not expect any changes to its unrecognized tax benefit for the next 12 months that would materially impact its consolidated financial statements.