Dr. Dalton’s Useful Guide to LANAP Treatments

LANAP is a treatment used to correct periodontitis, commonly known as periodontal disease. LANAP is a minimally invasive procedure using a precision laser to remove bacteria and damaged tissue while leaving healthy tissue intact. If left untreated, periodontal disease will destroy gum and bone tissue, leading to tooth loss and shifting smiles, chronic pain, and changing facial features. If you want to learn more about periodontal disease, the LANAP procedure, the benefits of LANAP, and if it’s right for you, keep reading Dr. Dalton’s Useful Guide to LANAP Treatments.

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

The Causes of Periodontal Disease

According to the Mayo Clinic, periodontal disease starts with plaque buildup under the gum line. Plaque forms on your teeth when starches and sugars in food interact with bacteria commonly found in your mouth. Brushing and flossing your teeth remove plaque, but it quickly returns. And, if it stays on your teeth, it can harden into tartar under the gumline. That tartar causes gingivitis, and it’s not long after that when the first stages of periodontal disease appear.

Factors that increase the risk of periodontitis include:

What is LANAP Therapy?

LANAP stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. It is an FDA-cleared, highly specialized periodontal laser therapy designed to treat moderate-to-severe gum disease.

Unlike traditional methods that cut away diseased tissue, LANAP therapy uses a highly precise dental laser to gently vaporize bacteria and diseased tissue while leaving your healthy gum tissue completely unharmed.

The secret behind the success of the LANAP procedure lies in the proprietary PerioLase MVP-7 dental laser technology. This specific Nd: YAG laser operates at a wavelength that targets the dark pigmentation of the bacteria responsible for gum disease. Because healthy gum tissue lacks this dark pigmentation, the laser safely bypasses it. This selective targeting is what makes the procedure so groundbreaking. It promotes the healing and regeneration of the alveolar bone, the thick, spongy part of the jawbone that holds the roots of your teeth. Additionally, selective targeting enables healing of connective tissue damaged by periodontal disease.

Signs You Need Laser Gum Surgery

Gum disease is often called a “silent disease” because it can progress for years without causing significant pain. However, as the infection deepens, your body will start sending clear warning signals.

Here are the most common signs you need laser gum surgery:

• Persistent Bleeding: Your gums bleed easily when brushing, flossing, or eating hard foods.
• Receding Gums: Your teeth appear longer than they used to because the gum line is pulling away.
• Deep Gum Pockets: Your dentist notes that the spaces between your teeth and gums are 5 millimeters or deeper.
• Chronic Bad Breath: A persistent bad taste or odor in your mouth that doesn’t go away with brushing or mouthwash.
• Loose or Shifting Teeth: The bone supporting your teeth is deteriorating, causing your teeth to feel unsteady.
• Tenderness and Swelling: Your gums are frequently red, swollen, or painful to the touch.

If you are experiencing several of these symptoms, you may be dealing with advanced periodontitis. Fortunately, LANAP is an incredibly effective treatment for moderate- to advanced-stage periodontal disease. It can stop the infection in its tracks and help to save teeth that might otherwise be lost.

Who Are the Ideal LANAP Candidates?

Because LANAP is minimally invasive, a much wider group of patients can safely undergo this procedure compared to traditional surgery.

Ideal LANAP candidates include:

Periodontists follow a step-by-step protocol to ensure LANAP success and satisfied patients. Here is what happens:

How Does LANAP Treatment Work?

4. Blood Clot Formation: The laser is passed through the pocket a second time. This step stimulates the blood to form a firm, sticky clot at the top of the pocket. This clot acts as a natural biological seal, keeping new bacteria out while the gums heal.
5. Tissue Compression: The dentist gently presses the gum tissue against the tooth’s root. No stitches or sutures are required, enabling a faster recovery.
6. Bite Adjustment: Finally, your dentist will adjust your bite to ensure your teeth come together evenly, which helps prevent trauma to the healing bone and tissue.

Through this calculated and elegant protocol, periodontists can reduce periodontal pocket depth without using scalpels, setting the stage for true biological regeneration.

Additional periodontal procedures, including Guided Tissue Repair and Dental Bone Grafting, may be used in conjunction with LANAP. Guided tissue repair provides additional support for bone regeneration. A Bone Graft could be used to increase the size and density of the jawbone. 

The LANAP Benefits You Need to Know

The benefits of minimally invasive gum therapy are undeniable: you keep your natural tissue, avoid the aesthetic drawbacks of recessed gums, and undergo a much more comfortable healing process.

If you are leaning toward laser therapy, you are in good company. Thousands of patients and dental professionals advocate for this treatment because of its extensive benefits. The top LANAP benefits include:

Another periodontal procedure, Guided Tissue Regeneration, may be used in conjunction with LANAP. Guided tissue repair provides additional support for bone regeneration. Additionally, a Bone Graft could be used with LANAP to increase the size and density of the jawbone. 

What to Expect: Laser Gum Surgery Recovery Time and Aftercare

One of the biggest selling points of LANAP is how quickly patients get back to their everyday routine. LANAP patients often return to work the very next day.

During the post-op period, your body is performing complex reconstructive work beneath the surface, so you still need to be careful. To ensure the best possible results, strict adherence to post-operative care for laser dentistry is mandatory.

Actionable Post-Op Tips:

• Protect the Clot: The blood clot formed by the laser is the hero of your healing process. Do not brush or floss the treated area for the first 7 to 10 days, as this can dislodge the clot.
• Adopt a Soft Diet: For the first few days, stick to a liquid or mushy diet (smoothies, yogurt, mashed potatoes, applesauce). Gradually transition to soft foods (pasta, fish, soft vegetables) for the next week. Avoid crunchy, hard, or spicy foods, as well as anything with small seeds that could get lodged in your gums.
• Skip the Straws: Do not use straws for the first few days. The suction can easily pull the blood clot from the periodontal pocket.
• Rinse Gently: Your dentist may prescribe an antimicrobial mouthwash. Do not swish vigorously. Instead, let the liquid gently roll around your mouth, then fall into the sink.
• Avoid Smoking: Smoking severely constricts blood vessels, depriving your healing gums of oxygen and essential nutrients. It is highly recommended to abstain from smoking during the recovery phase

The Financial Considerations of LANAP Treatments

When considering this state-of-the-art procedure, it is natural to ask about the financial commitment. The average cost of laser gum therapy depends on the severity of your gum disease and whether you are treating a single quadrant or the entire mouth.

If stage 3 periodontal disease is left untreated, the inevitable result is tooth loss. The cost of extracting teeth, performing bone grafts, and placing multiple dental implants far exceeds the cost of saving your natural teeth with LANAP.

Many dental insurance plans cover a portion of the cost of laser periodontal therapy under their surgical or deep-cleaning benefits. Additionally, dental offices may offer an in-house savings plan to help make treatment more affordable.

Conclusion to the Useful Guide to LANAP

This ultimate guide to LANAP treatments covers a lot of ground. In summary, LANAP treats moderate- to advanced-stage periodontal disease using a precision-guided laser to vaporize bacteria and diseased tissue. Best of all, it leaves healthy tissue unharmed. While early-stage periodontal disease doesn’t cause any pain, there are some warning signs that the condition has progressed to the point where treatment is needed. A specific protocol is used to determine the extent of the damage, the laser cleaning and scaling needed, and preparing the affected areas for healing. Benefits include minimal discomfort and disruption of daily life, preservation of healthy tissue, and true bone and tissue regeneration.

Dalton Dental, under the leadership of Dr. Hilary Dalton, a board-certified periodontist, has a team of professionals who perform LANAP treatments every week. To learn more about the LANAP treatments offered by Dalton Dental, please visit our LANAP Therapy page. Dalton Dental offers an In-House Dental Savings Plan to help make treatments, including LANAP, more affordable.

About Dalton Dental

Dalton Dental is a full-service dental practice in South Tampa. Dr. Hilary Dalton is a board- certified periodontist who has performed LANAP treatments for over 20 years. Learn more about us, our dental services, and take an office tour. Also, check out the hundreds of 5-star reviews and the galleries of smiles from the best dentist in South Tampa, Dalton Dental.