Laser Periodontal Procedures “LANAP”

What is Laser Gum Treatment?

LANAP (the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) and LPT(Laser Periodontal Therapy) are different words for the same procedure. It is an FDA-approved procedure for the effective treatment of periodontal (gum) disease. A laser light is used to gently remove harmful bacteria and diseased tissue form the gum pocket. This allows the body to heal naturally so that the gum pockets improve and the teeth become more stable. The laser is a wonderful tool that will help many patients bring themselves to a more healthy state.

Does LANAP treatment hurt?

The gums are numbed thoroughly for LANAP treatment. There is no pain during the procedure. Most patients report little or no pain after the procedure, as well.

How is LANAP different from conventional gum surgery?

LANAP requires no cutting and no stitches. With LANAP the gum pocket is treated to encourage healing and renewal. No outer gum tissue is removed, as is the case with conventional surgery. As a result, with LANAP, the root structure is not exposed, limiting sensitivity and possible root decay.

What’s involved with Laser surgery?

After a thorough evaluation at our South Burlington VT laser periodontics office, areas where laser surgery is indicated will be identified. It is best to treat all infected areas in one or two visits as untreated areas may affect the surgical outcome. During the surgery, we will adjust your bite to eliminate areas of heavy force. Most patients experience minimal discomfort and little to no swelling post-operatively. After the surgery, we may recommend a nightguard to prevent any excessive forces on the teeth and bone during healing.

What happens after surgery?

Be prepared to commit to your dental health. You will need post-operative checks as well as frequent cleanings to monitor and promote healing. As with all patients who have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, good preventative care and early detection are keys to maintaining oral health. Most of our patients maintain a three to four month professional cleaning schedule with annual screenings.

A. Clinical evaluation reveals deep periodontal pocket due to boneloss. Tartar is also evident on the root structure.

B. The laser light relaxes the tissue to allow access to the tartar. It also removes only the diseased tissue, leaving healthy tissue untouched. The dotted line shows where traditional surgery would require cutting the gum tissue for access to the root removing both diseased and healthy tissue.

C. Ultrasonic and hand instruments are used to remove the tartar from the root surface.

D. The laser is re-inserted into the clean pocket to form a blood clot.

E. The blood clot seals off the clean pocket from the bacteria present throughout the rest of the mouth. This is the key to success.

F. The bite is checked and adjusted accordingly to relieve teeth that are receiving excessive pressure. This allows the healing process to continue under the gum without the stress of excessive biting force.

G. With the blood clot in place and bite equalized, the surgical area is primed for optimal healing eliminating the pocket and regeneration of bone.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call us! South Burlington Office Phone Number 802-862-1435