Laser Gum Surgery in Hamilton: The LANAP Procedure
Laser gum surgery is a treatment option for gum disease, also called periodontitis. At OMG Perio in Hamilton, we offer LANAP, the Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure, which uses laser technology to target diseased gum tissue and reduce bacteria around affected teeth.
Treatment aims to preserve healthy tissue and support healing. Your periodontist will assess your gums and explain whether LANAP, scaling and root planing or another treatment is appropriate for you. Discomfort, swelling and recovery time vary from person to person.
Why Choose the LANAP Procedure?
LANAP uses a laser to treat diseased gum tissue without the scalpel incisions and stitches used in conventional flap surgery. The procedure is designed to preserve healthy tissue while treating affected areas around the teeth.
Your periodontist will explain the expected benefits, limitations and alternatives based on the condition of your gums and supporting bone.
Benefits of Laser Gum Treatment
Potential benefits of LANAP include:
- Minimally invasive treatment: LANAP does not require the scalpel incisions and stitches used in conventional flap surgery.
- Targeted treatment: The laser targets diseased tissue while aiming to preserve healthy gum tissue.
- Support for periodontal healing: Treatment aims to improve the condition of the tissues supporting your teeth. Results depend on the extent of disease and your individual response.
- A planned course of care: Your periodontist will explain how many treatment sessions and follow-up visits you need.
How LANAP Works
- A fibre-optic laser tip targets diseased tissue and bacteria within the gum pocket.
- Ultrasonic instruments remove tartar and deposits from the tooth root below the gumline.
- The laser is used again to further treat the gum pocket after the root surface has been cleaned.
- The laser helps form a blood clot that supports healing around the tooth.
- After treatment, you will receive instructions for eating, cleaning the treated area and returning to normal activities. Healing continues beyond the first day, and follow-up visits help your periodontist monitor your progress.
Laser Gum Surgery vs. Traditional Gum Surgery
Both approaches can be used to treat periodontal disease. The appropriate treatment depends on your gum pockets, bone support and other clinical findings.
| Treatment Feature | LANAP Laser Gum Surgery | Conventional Periodontal Flap Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Access to affected areas | Uses a laser within the gum pocket | Uses incisions to lift the gum tissue and access affected areas |
| Stitches | Generally not required for the LANAP procedure | Usually required |
| Treatment plan | Determined by the extent of disease and your periodontist’s assessment | Determined by the extent of disease and your periodontist’s assessment |
| Recovery | Varies with the treatment provided and individual healing | Varies with the treatment provided and individual healing |
| Ongoing care | Home care and periodontal maintenance remain important | Home care and periodontal maintenance remain important |
What to Expect During Laser Gum Treatment
During your consultation, your periodontist will explain:
- How the procedure will be performed and how discomfort will be managed.
- How many treatment sessions you need and how long each appointment is expected to take.
- What tenderness, sensitivity or swelling you may experience afterwards.
- How to care for your gums and when to return for follow-up visits.
About the PerioLase Laser
OMG Perio uses the PerioLase laser as part of LANAP treatment. The laser is used alongside root-surface cleaning to treat affected gum pockets and support healing around natural teeth. Your periodontist will explain how it fits into your treatment plan.
Recovery After Laser Gum Surgery
Recovery depends on the extent of your treatment and your individual healing response. You may experience tenderness or sensitivity afterwards, and feeling comfortable enough to resume some activities does not mean your gums have fully healed.
Follow your periodontist’s instructions about soft foods, brushing, flossing and cleaning the treated areas. Attend your follow-up appointments so we can assess healing and explain when to resume your usual oral hygiene routine. Contact the clinic if symptoms worsen or you are concerned about your recovery.
Is Laser Gum Therapy Right for You?
If you are experiencing symptoms such as red, swollen or bleeding gums, come to OMG Perio. We’ll be happy to take a look and help you find relief, whether that’s via laser gum therapy or another procedure.
Dr. Michael Glogauer, Dr. Alon Borenstein and our team take the time to make you feel welcome and comfortable as we assess your oral health and discuss your treatment options.
OMG Perio offers LANAP in Hamilton. Your periodontist will assess whether it is suitable for your gums and explain the benefits and limitations that apply to your case.
Our goal is to improve your gum health and help you understand your treatment options. Request an appointment to discuss your concerns with our team.
Laser Care Around Dental Implants
Dental implants require daily cleaning and ongoing professional maintenance. Bacteria can accumulate around implants and cause inflammation in the surrounding tissues. Peri-implantitis involves inflammation and loss of the bone supporting an implant.
If you have bleeding, swelling or discomfort around an implant, your periodontist can assess the cause and recommend treatment. Laser therapy may form part of an individual treatment plan, but the appropriate approach depends on the condition of the implant and surrounding tissues.
Learn more about peri-implantitis and dental implant care.
Laser Gum Surgery FAQs
What is LANAP laser gum surgery?
LANAP is a laser-assisted procedure used to treat periodontal disease around natural teeth. It combines laser treatment with cleaning of the tooth roots below the gumline. Your periodontist will assess whether it is appropriate for your condition.
How long does LANAP treatment take?
The number and length of appointments depend on how many areas need treatment and your individual treatment plan. Your periodontist will explain the expected schedule at your consultation.
How long do LANAP results last?
Long-term results depend on the severity of your gum disease, your response to treatment, daily oral hygiene and ongoing periodontal maintenance. Regular follow-up visits help your periodontist monitor your gum health.
Does laser gum surgery hurt?
Your periodontist will explain how discomfort is managed during treatment. Tenderness or sensitivity can occur afterwards, and your experience will depend on the areas treated and your individual response.
Is LANAP surgery worth it?
LANAP may be an appropriate option for some patients with periodontal disease. Your periodontist will discuss the expected benefits, costs, limitations and alternatives so you can make an informed decision.
What are the downsides of LANAP?
LANAP is not suitable for every periodontal condition. Discomfort, sensitivity and other complications are possible, and further treatment may be needed. Your periodontist will explain the risks and alternatives relevant to your oral health.
How much is laser gum surgery?
The cost ranges depending on the severity of the gum disease and how many teeth have to be treated. Consult with your periodontist to get a detailed estimate.
Is laser gum therapy covered by insurance?
Coverage depends on your dental plan, the treatment provided and your insurer’s requirements. Check your benefits and any pre-approval requirements with your insurer before treatment.
What can I eat after laser gum surgery?
Soft foods and liquids may be recommended after treatment. Your periodontist will provide instructions about suitable foods and how long to follow the recommended diet.
What is the BLAST protocol for dental implants?
There’s a common misconception that because dental implants aren’t ‘real’, they don’t require regular maintenance the way natural teeth would. But you do have to both brush and floss them just as you would normal teeth.
While it is true that dental implants can’t become infected, they can still collect bacteria which in turn can cause disease in the tissue around the implant. That diseased tissue may even begin to deteriorate the bone holding the implant in place. If this advances past a certain point of deterioration, then the implant will have to be removed.
The BLAST protocol involves two phases intended to save your dental implant should the bone begin to be worn away by bacteria:
- Activation Phase: activate the dental implant and decontaminate the implant placement site, creating the best possible circumstances for tissue and bone regeneration and saving the implant.
- Maintenance Phase: reduce harmful bacteria at regular follow-up appointments as a preventative measure, eliminating the threat of infections around your dental implant.
Some of the benefits of the BLAST protocol include:
- Reduce harmful bacteria in your mouth
- Increase ability of implant to integrate into bone
- Reduction of inflammation in gums around dental implant
- Inducement of collagen formation (fibrosis)
- Activation of natural growth factors
Optimize Implant Success from the Beginning
Dental implants “age” before they are placed, losing some of the properties that help them attach to the bone. The BLAST protocol includes using the PerioLase to reactivate the titanium in advance of the dental implant placement. This process, called photofunctionalization, encourages materials to stick to the titanium. That enables the bone to get as close as possible to the implant, resulting in what is called osseointegration – a good outcome!
Decrease Harmful Bacteria Around Your Dental Implant
During the second phase of BLAST, the healing process is helped along as harmful bacteria is removed. The laser has been designed specifically to target harmful bacteria while leaving health-giving bacteria unharmed.
The LANAP and BLAST processes can be used for individual implants and for laser-assisted full arch implant placement.
By restoring the titanium to its active state before placing the implant and thoroughly cleaning the implant site with the laser, we’re giving that implant the best possible chance for a lifetime of success.
Recent studies have shown that PerioLase kills 100% of bacteria on titanium implants, 100% of the time.
Questions About Laser Gum Surgery?
If you have a question about laser gum surgery or your treatment plan, call our Hamilton periodontal office at 905-526-6078 or request an appointment online.