Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail)

v3.8.0.1
Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail)
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 12, 2017
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 11, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
Sep. 11, 2017
$ / shares
shares
May 10, 2017
$ / shares
shares
May 09, 2017
$ / shares
shares
Apr. 19, 2017
VicePresident
$ / shares
shares
Apr. 18, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Mar. 27, 2017
SeniorVicePresidentChiefFinancialOfficer
$ / shares
shares
Feb. 06, 2017
$ / shares
shares
Jul. 13, 2015
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2016
$ / shares
shares
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Preferred stock, par value | $ / shares                       $ 0.001   $ 0.001   $ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized                       200,000,000   200,000,000   100,000,000
Proceeds from equity offering, net of expenses | $                           $ 10,395,000 $ 9,541,000  
Deemed distribution to preferred shareholders, common stock at fair value | $                         $ 2,184,000 3,978,000 2,184,000  
Compensation expense related to stock options | $                       $ 464,000 $ 688,000 $ 1,600,000 $ 2,500,000  
Net impact of stock-based compensation expense to earnings per basic share | $ / shares                       $ (0.01) $ (0.01) $ (0.02) $ (0.04)  
Net impact of stock-based compensation expense to earnings per diluted share | $ / shares                       $ (0.01) $ (0.01) $ (0.02) $ (0.04)  
Total unrecognized compensation cost | $                       $ 4,100,000   $ 4,100,000    
Unrecognized share based compensation cost to be recognized over weighted-average period                           2 years 1 month 6 days    
Reversal of share based compensation expense | $                           $ 640,000    
Number of newly hired vice presidents | VicePresident             1                  
Number of senior vice president and chief financial officer | SeniorVicePresidentChiefFinancialOfficer                 1              
Stock-based compensation | $                           $ 1,604,000 $ 2,468,000  
Outstanding stock options, RSUs and warrants excluded from diluted loss per share                       26,834,243 17,636,132 26,834,243 17,636,132  
Stock Options | Employees                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Stock options granted                   611,000            
Awards valued per share | $ / shares                   $ 1.55            
Options expiration period                   10 years            
Stock Options | Existing Employees                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Stock options granted                   586,000            
Stock Options | Existing Employees | Vest on First Anniversary of Award Date                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Award Vesting Rights Percentage                   50.00%            
Stock Options | Existing Employees | Vest on Second Anniversary of Award Date                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Award Vesting Rights Percentage                   50.00%            
Stock Options | New Employees                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting Commencement Date                   Mar. 06, 2018            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Monthly Ratable Award Vesting Period                   36 months            
Options vesting description                           For the 25,000 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.    
Stock Options | New Employees | Vest on February 6, 2018                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Stock options granted                   25,000            
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting Commencement Date                   Feb. 06, 2018            
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Award Vesting Rights Percentage                   25.00%            
Stock Options | Mr. Clark                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Additional compensation expense | $                       $ 44,000   $ 44,000    
Stock Options | Vice Presidents                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Stock options granted             400,000                  
Awards valued per share | $ / shares             $ 1.17                  
Options expiration period             10 years                  
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting Commencement Date             Mar. 13, 2018                  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Monthly Ratable Award Vesting Period             36 months                  
Percentage of time based vesting for options             75.00%                  
Stock Options | Vice Presidents | Awards Vesting on March 13, 2018                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Award Vesting Rights Percentage             25.00%                  
Non Qualified Stock Options | Non-Employee Directors                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Stock options granted         525,528                      
Awards valued per share | $ / shares         $ 1.21                      
Options expiration period         10 years                      
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting Commencement Date         Jun. 10, 2017                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Monthly Ratable Award Vesting Period         12 months                      
Non Qualified Stock Options | Dr. Lord                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Stock options granted   65,891   65,385                        
Awards valued per share | $ / shares   $ 0.61 $ 0.54 $ 0.54                        
Options expiration period   10 years   10 years                        
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting Commencement Date   Oct. 10, 2017   Oct. 10, 2017                        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Monthly Ratable Award Vesting Period   8 months   8 months                        
Non Qualified Stock Options | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Stock options granted                 600,000              
Awards valued per share | $ / shares                 $ 1.28              
Options expiration period                 10 years              
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting Commencement Date                 Mar. 27, 2018              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Monthly Ratable Award Vesting Period                 36 months              
Percentage of time based vesting for options                 75.00%              
Non Qualified Stock Options | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | Awards Vesting on March 27, 2018                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Award Vesting Rights Percentage                 25.00%              
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Awards valued per share | $ / shares                   $ 1.55            
Granted                   80,000       2,321,000    
Vest in period                           387,000    
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Vest on March 14, 2017                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Vest in period                   30,000            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Date                   Mar. 14, 2017            
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Vest on September 14, 2017                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Vest in period                   20,000            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Date                   Sep. 14, 2017            
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Vest on May 10, 2018                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Vest in period                   30,000            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Date                   May 10, 2018            
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Non-Employee Directors                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Stock options granted         175,176                      
Awards valued per share | $ / shares         $ 1.21                      
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Non-Employee Directors | Vest on May 10, 2018                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Date         May 10, 2018                      
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Mr. Clark                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Additional compensation expense | $                       $ 12,000   $ 12,000    
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Stock options granted                     870,000          
Awards valued per share | $ / shares                   $ 1.55 $ 1.64          
Options vesting description                           (i) one-quarter of the RSUs vest on February 6, 2019, (ii) one-eighth of the RSUs vest on February 6, 2020, (iii) one-eighth of the RSUs vest on February 6, 2021, and (iv) one-half of the RSUs vest upon the achievement of specific interim and annual Company performance criteria    
Number of options outstanding                       0   0    
Granted                   1,000,000            
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vest on February 6, 2019                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Date                   Feb. 06, 2019            
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vest on February 6, 2020                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Date                   Feb. 06, 2020            
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | President And Chief Executive Officer | Vest on February 6, 2021                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Date                   Feb. 06, 2021            
Performance Based RSUs                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Stock-based compensation | $     $ 265,000                          
Performance Based RSUs | Vest on September 11, 2018                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Date     Sep. 11, 2018                          
2002 Stock Incentive Plan                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Expected term (years)                       5 years 3 months 18 days 5 years 10 months 24 days 5 years 6 months 5 years 9 months 18 days  
Risk-free interest rate                       1.76% 1.30% 1.95% 1.32%  
Plan expiration date                           May 05, 2019    
Common stock authorized for issuance under the 2002 Plan                       15,550,000   15,550,000    
Common stock issued pursuant to options exercised                           3,946,000    
Options and restricted stock units outstanding                       9,437,000   9,437,000    
Options available for future grants                       2,167,000   2,167,000    
Number of options outstanding                       7,214,000   7,214,000   6,612,000
2017 Compensation Plan | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Employees and Consultants                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Stock options granted           500,000                    
Awards valued per share | $ / shares           $ 1.22                    
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]                                
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Award Vesting Rights Percentage           50.00%                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, 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]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Date           May 09, 2019                    
Warrants                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Granted                           3,926,000    
Minimum                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Expected gross proceeds from rights offering | $                           $ 8,000,000    
Minimum | Affiliates of Larry Feinberg                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Exercise of basic subscription rights and any available over-subscription privilege of rights offering | $ $ 3,000,000                              
Minimum | Affiliates of Jack Schuler                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Exercise of basic subscription rights and any available over-subscription privilege of rights offering | $ $ 3,000,000                              
Maximum                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Expected gross proceeds from rights offering | $                           12,000,000    
Private Placement                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Number of warrants to purchase aggregate unregistered shares of common stock               3,925,871                
Price per share of unregistered shares of common stock | $ / shares               $ 1.80                
Conversion of stock, each shares issued               100                
Stock conversion, price | $ / shares               $ 1.24                
Warrants exercisable date               Oct. 18, 2017                
Warrants expiration date               Apr. 18, 2022                
Warrants exercisable of private placement term expiration period               5 years                
Number of consecutive trading days               30 days                
Proceeds from equity offering, gross | $               $ 10,500,000           $ 10,500,000    
Payments of stock issuance costs | $               200,000                
Proceeds from equity offering, net of expenses | $               $ 10,300,000                
Warrants exercisable description                           The Warrants became exercisable on October 18, 2017 and expire on April 18, 2022 five years after the date of issuance, or, if earlier, five business days after the Company delivers notice that the closing price per share of BIOLASE common stock exceeded the Exercise Price for 30 consecutive trading days during the exercise period.    
Deemed distribution to preferred shareholders, common stock at fair value | $                           $ 2,000,000    
Private Placement | Warrants                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Proceeds from equity offering, gross | $                           $ 2,300,000    
Private Placement | Common Stock and Warrants                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Expected term (years)                           5 years    
Risk-free interest rate                           1.90%    
Dividend yield                           0.00%    
Private Placement | Beneficial Conversion                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Proceeds from equity offering, gross | $                           $ 2,000,000    
Private Placement | Minimum                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Common stock, shares authorized               100,000,000                
Private Placement | Maximum                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Common stock, shares authorized               200,000,000                
Series D Participating Convertible Preferred Stock | Private Placement                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Aggregate unregistered shares               80,644                
Preferred stock, par value | $ / shares               $ 0.001                
Number of warrants to purchase aggregate unregistered shares of common stock               3,925,871                
Preferred Stock | Private Placement                                
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]                                
Proceeds from equity offering, gross | $                           $ 8,200,000