Am I A Candidate for LANAP Treatment?

Do You Have Periodontitis?

Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a severe gum infection that causes damage to your gum tissue as well as the bone supporting your teeth. In its later stages, it can cause patients to have loose teeth, tooth decay, and even experience tooth loss. Although periodontitis is among the more serious and more painful oral conditions, it’s actually fairly common, preventable, and highly treatable.

Patients with periodontitis who would traditionally need gum surgery can now benefit from the LANAP protocol. LANAP stands for “Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure.” With LANAP, patients undergo a minimally invasive treatment specialized for gum disease. No cutting or suturing is required with LANAP. Most patients consider it to be a less painful treatment than traditional surgery.

How does LANAP work?

During the LANAP procedure, a dentist uses a laser that operates at a wavelength optimal for killing gum disease-causing bacteria while leaving healthy gum tissue intact. The laser is located at fine tip of the LANAP instrument, allowing it to clean even under the gums, vaporizing bacteria, plaque, and diseased tissue. This essentially presses the reset button on your gums, restoring them back to their original, healthy state. LANAP is patented and FDA-approved, making it a trusted choice among dentists and orthodontists.

LANAP also makes post-surgical recovery less painful – your gums will be instantly healthier after the procedure. With gum surgery, post-operative tooth sensitivity and recession are common.

Symptoms of Periodontitis

Typical signs of gum disease include:

• Bleeding gums: When patients brush or floss their teeth, their gums may bleed.
• Plague Under the Gum Line: Plaque buildup present below the gums, usually from lack of flossing and proper brushing, hardens and results in gum inflammation. This can lead to bone loss.
• Loose teeth: The patient’s teeth move when pressed with the tongue or cheek, and may be accompanied by pain.
• Periodontal pockets: Patients with periodontitis typically have a lot of space between their gum line and the root of their teeth. If the roots of your teeth are partially exposed, you are a candidate for LANAP.

Not all periodontitis is as severe as described above – less serious forms of periodontitis include gingivitis. LANAP can also benefit patients with gingivitis, using regenerative dentistry to help them restore their gum line to prevent the advancement of gum disease.

At PreserveYourTeeth™, our dentists are periodontal innovators. We use LANAP as part of our regenerative dentistry protocol to help our patients maintain beautiful smiles without scalpels and sutures.