Will LANAP Save My Teeth?
There are multiple intersecting factors periodontists must consider when devising a treatment plan for periodontal disease. A successful treatment should decrease the depth of periodontal pockets, delay or halt attachment loss, and minimize inflammation, and the success of each of these factors combine to affect the overall success of the procedure. LANAP surgery provides optimal results on all three counts. The laser used in LANAP surgery includes 7 different durations and patterns; the specialized NdYAG laser stimulates the bone and encourages regrowth of healthy tissue.
The LANAP protocol uses a specialized laser called the PerioLase MVP-7 and the treatment can only be performed by a certified clinician. During a LANAP procedure, the dentist inserts the fiber of the PerioLase MVP-7 between the gum tissue and the teeth, targeting only the sites of inflammation and infection and avoiding healthy gum tissue. Because no gum tissue is removed in a LANAP treatment procedure, the size and shape of the gumline are not altered as they are following a traditional surgical periodontal treatment. There is no scalpel, no cutting of tissue, and no sutures, which means recovery time is brief and pain and discomfort are minimal if they are even present at all.
Until relatively recently, the only treatment option for periodontal surgery was traditional surgery. The surgery used to treat periodontal disease is officially called osseous surgery, though it is also known as flap surgery, pocket reduction surgery, or gingivectomy. Osseous surgery was developed more than 70 years ago, and it involves using a scalpel to remove infected gum tissue, drilling into the bone, possibly removing teeth, and suturing the gum tissue closed with surgical stitches. In a traditional periodontal surgery, the gum tissue is cut away and then folded back, providing the dentist access to the roots of the teeth and the bone that supports the roots. Bone tissue that has been damaged by periodontal disease is reshaped and, if needed, grafted with bone graft material. The gums are cut away to reduce the depth of periodontal pockets, and the area inside existing pockets is cleaned and disinfected to prevent the growth of bacteria; once the areas are thoroughly disinfected, the dentist sutures the gums back in place, creating a new gum line and promoting a newly healthy oral cavity. This surgery comes with a long recovery time, usually creates recession in the gum line, and can lead to tooth sensitivity.
LANAP treatment is minimally invasive and requires no cutting or stitching, and it confers the added benefit of helping to regenerate and rejuvenate the gum tissue. The treatment is largely painless, and the aesthetic results are unparalleled. Because LANAP treatment is non-invasive, and because the lasers used destroy bacteria along with diseased tissue, healing outcomes are improved and the overall health of the oral cavity is also enhanced. The NdYAG laser also stimulates the bone, encouraging the regeneration of bone that has been lost to periodontal disease. For this reason, clinicians who follow the LANAP protocol can preserve the integrity of teeth that have become loose, helping keep them in the mouth and helping eliminate the need for extraction and the subsequent replacement of missing teeth with dental restorations. When patients require periodontal treatment to heal the tissues of the periodontium and support the health of the oral cavity, LANAP treatment is often the most comfortable, beneficial option available. You and your dentist can work together to learn whether LANAP treatment is a good option for you, your budget, and your clinical needs.