Understanding Laser Gum Therapy

Basic Steps of the LANAP® Protocol

The Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP®) is a great option for patients who are averse to long surgeries and even longer recovery periods. When compared to traditional gum surgery, laser gum surgery is much less stressful and minimally painful. In fact, with LANAP®, your dentist can remove up to 90% of the inflammation in just a single short session. 

Here is a brief description of how it works:

Analyzing Pocket Depths

The first step in LANAP® is to examine the depths of your periodontal pockets to determine how much attachment loss has occurred. This will give us a clue as to how severe the infection is so that we can adjust your treatment accordingly.

Removing Tissue and Eliminating Bacteria

Once we have analyzed your pocket depths, we can begin removing bacteria and infected tissue. In contrast to traditional gum surgery which uses scalpels to cut away tissue, LANAP® uses a laser that is not absorbed by water, teeth, or bone. This means that only diseased tissue will be affected while the healthy tissue is left untouched.

Removing Calculus Deposits

The next step is to use ultrasonic scalers to remove deposits of tartar, or calculus, from beneath the gum line.

Creating Blood Clots

Once the calculus has been removed, we will use the laser once more to create blood clots and stimulate the regrowth of bone and tissue. Not only does this help prevent infection during the healing process, it also helps to preserve your teeth’s natural support structures and prevent future tooth loss.

Reattaching Tissue

Next, we will reattach your gum tissue to the surfaces of your teeth. Laser gum surgery does not require the use of stitches to accomplish this.

Checking for Signs of Trauma

Finally, we will examine your bite to ensure that no damage has occurred and make any adjustments that are deemed necessary. This is especially important if you have experienced bone loss prior to your gum surgery.

LANAP® is a minimally invasive surgery designed to treat moderate to advanced periodontal disease. To learn more about laser gum surgery in our office, contact our team to schedule your consultation today!