If you’ve been told you have periodontal (gum) disease, you’re not alone. Millions of adults in the U.S. currently have some form of gum disease. The main cause of periodontal disease is plaque, but other factors affect the health of your gums, including:

• Age

• Whether you smoke or use tobacco

• Genetics

• Stress

• Medications

• Poor nutrition

Periodontal diseases range from simple gum inflammation to serious disease resulting in major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. Whether your gum disease is stopped, slowed, or gets worse depends a great deal on how well you care for your teeth and gums every day, from this point forward.

The Dangers of Untreated Gum Disease

When gum disease is not treated, it can advance to periodontitis and inflammation around the tooth. In periodontitis, gums pull away from the teeth and form spaces, called pockets, that become infected. The body’s immune system fights the bacteria as the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line. Bacterial toxins and the body’s natural response to infection start to break down the bone and connective tissue holding teeth in place.

If not treated, the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth are destroyed and your teeth may eventually have to be removed.

Do you suffer from deep pockets between your teeth and gums? Have dentists told you the only option is traditional surgery? It’s simply not true! There’s now a more advanced, non-invasive treatment called LANAP!

Drawbacks of Traditional Gum Disease Treatments

Traditional gum disease treatments included surgery, which was a painful option for patients. With traditional surgery, a scalpel is used to cut the gum tissue so it can be pulled back, allowing the periodontist to remove the plaque and tartar from the tooth.

After cleaning the tooth and removing any diseased tissue, the remaining healthy tissue is sutured back into place. This method, however, can create further gum recession and sensitive teeth due to root exposure.

Traditional surgery for gum disease is invasive, painful, and requires considerable healing time after surgery.

What is LANAP?

The LANAP Protocol is the only FDA-approved laser treatment for periodontal disease and has many benefits when compared to traditional gum surgery. This method offers patients a less painful, more successful treatment because there is no need for cutting or sutures.

At the start of your LANAP treatment, the doctor will give you local anesthesia to make the area numb. Then, a tiny laser that is no thicker than three human hairs, is inserted in between the gum and tooth and is used to clear away any infection or disease.

After the area is clear of disease and decay, the roots of the tooth will be cleaned of any tartar and plaque. The laser will then be used again on a different setting to seal the pocket.

What are the Benefits of LANAP?

LANAP and LAR (Laser Assisted Regeneration) are the only scientifically, research-proven methodologies that result in true periodontal regeneration, new bone growth, and gum tissue reattachment.

The treatment is minimally invasive and does not require a blade or sutures, offering very little recession and pain for the patient. The laser uses a particular wavelength that tells the difference between diseased and healthy tissue, meaning it’s very safe and selective.

This is the first time periodontists can remove diseased tissue and bacteria from gums without causing damage to healthy tissue. There is less pain and less downtime, less recession of the gum line, and less time needed to heal when compared with traditional gum surgery.

The LANAP protocol also has better long-term results and is more predictable when it comes to bone regeneration and connective reattachment of the treated tissue. The laser stimulates the bone that surrounds the root of the tooth and has been proven to create regeneration. In many cases, this can save teeth that might have been previously extracted due to bone loss.

LANAP can even reverse the effects of periodontal disease and the patient’s gum health will continue to improve over time.

Learn More About LANAP

If you’ve been told you need traditional periodontal therapy, we’d be happy to determine if the LANAP Protocol is an option for you! To schedule an appointment with our periodontist, please give us a call or make an appointment online!