Laser Gum Surgery | LANAP Procedure
Laser gum surgery is an innovative new procedure for gum disease/periodontitis.
Laser gum therapy (also called Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure or LANAP) is an elevated treatment of gum disease that benefits from safe and effective laser technology to target and eliminate bacteria and diseased tissue in the gums.
The LANAP procedure can preserve the healthy surrounding areas of your gum and leave you with virtually no pain or swelling.
Why Choose the LANAP Procedure?
By using laser technology,laser gum surgery eliminates disease-causing bacteria with total precision and without all those things that cause people anxiety when it comes to dental care – no scalpels or pliers necessary.
The significantly less invasive laser gum procedure also protects your tissue from damage and preserves your teeth and bone structure.
In addition to treating gum disease, laser gum surgery can also be used for gum contouring, gum reduction, and other gum treatments.
What Separates Laser Therapy for Gum Disease and Gum Contouring from Traditional Procedures
The benefits of laser therapy for gum disease and gum contouring include:
- Minimally Invasive: Unlike traditional gum surgery, LANAP is minimally invasive – that means no cutting or sutures are involved, which translates to less bleeding, pain, and discomfort – without sacrificing quality care
- Preserves Healthy Tissue: Laser precision allows us to target the infected areas in the gums without disturbing healthy tissue
- Proven: Extensive research and clinical studies have demonstrated that LANAP is highly effective in treating gum disease. Better yet, it’s been shown to promote bone regeneration, helping to save teeth that were previously considered beyond repair.
- Fast: LANAP procedures are often completed within one or two sessions – no repeated marathon sessions in the doctor’s chair
How LANAP Works
- The laser is emitted by a fiber-optic tip and targets harmful bacteria and diseased tissue, removing it from your gums
- Ultrasonic scalers are inserted into the pocket to remove tartar and other debris that may have fallen in from the tooth
- The laser is focused in on the pocket one last time to remove any bacteria that was under the debris
- The laser is used to sterilize the tissue and helps in sealing the pocket closed
- It’s done! You’ll usually recover within about 24 hours following the procedure
What to Expect During Laser Gum Treatment
During laser gum treatment, you can expect to:
- Experience little to no pain
- Complete the procedure within one or two sessions
- Recover within 24 hours
- Avoid scalpels, pliers, and other metal implements that give patients nightmares
More Information on LANAP
LANAP is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared laser true regeneration procedure that can help save teeth and treat patients should implants fail.
LANAP has been proven to kill more pathogens in the cells without damaging surrounding connective tissue. PerioLase laser technology kills bacteria without harming healthy tissue. Also the laser is able to stimulate the natural stem cells in the blood, encouraging rapid regeneration.
LANAP is the LASIK equivalent of gum surgery – fast, precise, and less painful. No cutting or tearing of tissue, no marathon sessions in the periodontist’s chair.
- Experience little to no pain
- Complete the procedure within one or two sessions
- Have the procedure done in two hours each session
- Recover within 24 hours
- Avoid scalpels, pliers, and other metal implements that give patients nightmares
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. Glougauer and his expert staff always take the time to make you feel welcome and comfortable as they assess your oral health and determine next steps.
Our clinic is one of the few practices in Hamilton offering LANAP – our staff is specially trained in the procedure, ensuring you can get all the benefits mentioned above.
Our job is to relieve you of all your oral-health related discomfort so your smile is pain-free. Get in touch and we’d be happy to schedule an appointment.
LANAP FAQs
What is LANAP laser gum surgery?
LANAP laser gum surgery is a leading periodontal procedure that provides fast, full relief to gum disease without the side effects of traditional surgery (like bleeding, long recovery times, pain, damage to gums, damage to bone structure, etc.).
How long does LANAP surgery last?
Aside from pre- and post-surgery consultations, you can expect to be done with your treatment in two sessions, with each session taking about two or three hours.
How long does LANAP surgery last?
The vast majority of patients (nearly 99%) remain stable after five years, which is many times higher than patients reporting the same with traditional gum surgery.
Is the LANAP procedure painful/does laser gum surgery hurt?
The vast majority of patients report that it is significantly less painful than traditional gum surgery. That’s because the procedure involves a laser that is no thicker than a few hairs rather than a comparatively larger scalpel. The laser is also much more precise than any scalpel.
Is LANAP surgery worth it?
In most instances yes! It’s a non-invasive, fast, successful, and pain-free solution to gum disease buildup.
What are the downsides of LANAP?
None! The only real drawback is that it’s not applicable in all situations. But if you can elect to have LANAP surgery to treat your gum disease it is likely to be the fastest, most pain-free solution with the best possible long-term oral health results.
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?
Many insurance plans do cover laser gum treatment.
What can I eat after laser gum surgery?
A diet of soft foods and liquids is recommended for several days after the surgery – your periodontist will provide you with a list of acceptable foods and time tables.
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/bone regeneration, 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.
MORE QUESTIONS?
We are here for you! If you have a question about your procedure or treatment plan, please call our Hamilton periodontal office at 905-526-6078.