Prof. Dr. Chandrashekar Yavagal, fondly known as Dr. Shekar, has spent nearly two decades questioning why advanced laser dentistry was treated as a luxury in India. As Co-Founder of NovoLase, he is working to change that narrative by building compact, high precision dental laser devices that bring painless dentistry within reach of the average Indian clinic. His beliefs are simple. If light can heal with accuracy and minimal discomfort, it should not remain restricted to elite hospitals.
Born in Hubballi, Karnataka, to Late Murugesh and Smt. Lata Yavagal, Shekar grew up in a modest chawl setting where money was scarce and ambition often felt distant. He took tuitions for juniors, sold his topper notes, and even crafted low cost dentures for terminally ill patients to pay his fees. Those early years shaped his outlook on hardship and dignity. As he often says, “Poverty is not a handicap. But a poor mindset definitely is.”
A university topper in BDS and Gold Medallist in MDS in Paediatric Dentistry from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, he later earned a Diploma in Orthodontics from the Orthodontic World Institute in Barcelona. Fellowships from global dental bodies and double doctorates followed, along with his role as Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at MMNGH IDS Belagavi, Karnataka. He later moved to Bapuji Laser Research Centre, BDCH Davangere, as a Post Graduate MDS and Post Doctoral PhD Guide. Yet academic success was only part of his journey. What intrigued him more was the science of lasers in medicine and the promise of pain free treatment, especially for cancer patients.
His tryst with laser technology began in 2006 when he treated a 40 day old infant using a rented laser unit that cost him ₹350 per day. The experience left a deep impression. Laser therapy offered precision, zero bleeding, minimal swelling, and faster healing. Still, the cost of imported devices kept most Indian dentists away from it. He felt that unless pricing changed, laser dentistry in India would remain a niche service. That thought slowly turned into a mission to create an indigenous, Made in India medical laser brand.
NovoLase was born from that mission. The company designs and manufactures portable, ergonomic, and advanced laser devices starting at ₹99,000 for small dental clinics and multispecialty practices alike. From temperature loop controlled pain therapy units to advanced oral cancer theranostic systems, the focus remains on affordability without compromising global safety norms. Production and assembly are fully indigenous, backed by ISO 9001 2015 and ISO 13485 certifications, along with CE marking and adherence to WHO GMP guidelines. For a brand that began as an idea in a small town, international installations in Germany, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bahrain, and even Addis Ababa signal how far it has come.
Shekar often speaks about a shift from a pharmaceutical dominated mindset to what he calls a photoceutical era. “Light is medicine when used correctly,” he says, arguing that laser therapy in dentistry, oncology, neurology, and physiotherapy can reduce dependence on drugs and invasive procedures. His clinics under the LaserVEDA banner put this belief into practice. Over the past decade, thousands of patients have received laser assisted treatment that prioritises comfort and quicker recovery. During the pandemic, the group also launched an online consultation service to remain accessible.
Beyond manufacturing and clinical work, he has built a reputation as a widely followed global speaker and mentor. As Scientific Chair of the Asian Academy of Laser Therapy and Vice President of The International College for Light Medicine and Laser Therapy, Germany, he was awarded the title of World Laser Specialist by APALMS Taiwan and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the European Medical Laser Association. Prof. Yavagal has delivered more than 200 lectures and workshops across India, Singapore, Kuwait, France, and Spain. His recent role on the executive board of the World Association of Laser Therapy from 2021 to 2024 further strengthened his standing in the global laser community.
What sets his story apart is not just technology but intent. He speaks frequently about Indian dentists struggling with high equipment costs and patients fearful of pain. “If we can remove pain from treatment, we remove fear,” he says. That idea continues to guide NovoLase as it pushes Indian laser technology onto the global stage. From a chawl in Hubballi to training and mentoring dentists, physicians, pain practitioners, oncologists, and neurologists across four continents using laser technology of Indian origin, Dr. Shekar Yavagal’s journey reads like a business case study in grit, conviction, and a firm refusal to accept limits.
