LANAP® PROCEDURE

Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP®) is an FDA cleared protocol for the treatment of periodontitis. It involves the use of a laser for treatment to promote natural gum regrowth. For people struggling with periodontal disease, the LANAP® protocol offers a less painful, more successful treatment alternative to conventional surgery. Using a laser, the LANAP® protocol targets infected tissue without harming healthy tissue. As a result, patients experience less pain and discomfort during and after treatment. In addition, the LANAP® protocol has been shown to promote true periodontal regeneration, new bone growth, and gum tissue reattachment.

Patient Benefits

• Less Pain - While it is normal to feel some discomfort during and after the procedure, many patients report that the LANAP® Procedure is much less painful than other types of dental surgery. This is because the LANAP® Procedure uses a very thin laser to remove only the diseased tissue, leaving healthy tissue intact. As a result, patients typically experience less swelling, bruising, and bleeding than with traditional surgery.
• Less bleeding - With laser periodontal therapy, a laser instead of a scalpel is used to remove the damaged tissue. As a result, there is less bleeding and swelling, and the recovery time is significantly shorter. For these reasons, the LANAP® procedure has become increasingly popular in recent years
• Less sensitivity - This type of laser surgery is minimally invasive and can be performed in a single visit. One of the main advantages is that it is less sensitive than other types of laser surgery.
• Less gum loss - This treatment targets the periodontal ligament, the tough band of tissue that anchors teeth to the jawbone. By selectively breaking down this ligament, the LANAP® Procedure allows dentists to remove diseased tissue without harming healthy gum tissue. As a result, patients are expected to keep more of their natural gum tissue, and experience less gum loss.
• Less swelling - The laser-assisted new attachment procedure helps to seal off blood vessels, which minimizes bleeding and helps to reduce swelling.
• Very little downtime after treatment - In most cases, patients can resume their normal activities the day after treatment.
• Reduced risk of post-op infection - Patients who undergo the LANAP® Procedure are up to four times less likely to develop an infection than those who have traditional surgery.
• Promotes regeneration of supporting gum tissues - The laser helps to stimulate the growth of new, healthy tissue.
• Healing is perceived to be faster and more comfortable than conventional surgery - By killing bacteria and stimulating the body's natural healing process, patients are more comfortable when healing and feel it occurs much more quickly.

How Does the LANAP® Process Work?

At Dorion & Associates, a laser called PerioLase MVP-7 will be used. It is specifically designed to target the infected area without harming any surrounding tissue. The laser eliminates any inflammatory cells around the tooth to create space between the tooth and gum. This allows your periodondist to scrape ant excess bacteria with hand tools.

You may experience a little discomfort during this procedure, but the laser is very precise and will only target the affected area. After the procedure, you will need to take special care of your teeth and gums to ensure that the infection does not return. You will receive more specific instructions at your appointment.

In the first visit, it will be determined if you are a good candidate for the procedure. The LANAP® process will be explained.

On the next visit, the first step is to numb the mouth so that you don't feel any discomfort during the procedure. Then, the dental surgeon will use a tiny fiber-optic cable to feed the laser attachment between your gums and the roots of your teeth. The laser uses UV rays to kill off unhealthy tissue and bacteria inside the tooth pocket, and it leaves everything else intact.

If needed, your surgeon will then do a second pass with the laser to remove any remaining tartar. Using a combination of both the laser and general tools, the bacteria is removed and a gel-clot is formed which attaches the gums to the new, clean tooth surfaces. Any bite trauma will be adjusted and the new gum tissue will start to heal and regenerate.

The bacteria that caused the gum disease is destroyed and the healthy tissue is unharmed. The whole procedure usually takes less than an hour. After your LANAP® procedure is completed, most patients are able to drive themselves home and resume most regular activities the next day.

It's important to stick to a soft food diet for a few days post-op while your gums heal. You may experience some discomfort and soreness around the gums, but this is normal and should subside within a few days.

During your follow-up appointment, we'll remove any sutures that were placed during the procedure. We're confident that you'll be happy with the results.

How Much Does LANAP® Laser Gum Surgery Cost?

When considering the costs of gum disease treatment, it is important to keep in mind the potential costs of not treating gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease will continue to progress, potentially leading to recession and/or tooth loss. Losing teeth can have a significant impact on your quality of life, affecting your speech, appearance, and diet.

In addition, gum disease has been linked to other health problems such as stroke and heart disease. Thus, the costs of treating gum disease should be considered in light of the potential costs of not treating gum disease.

By working with your dentist to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs, you can help ensure that gum disease does not have a negative impact on your oral health or overall well-being. The cost of laser gum surgery (LANAP®) will vary depending on the patient, but you can expect to pay anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000.

The good news is that if you have dental insurance and you need laser gum surgery for a medical reason, insurance will most likely help cover the costs. Some of the factors that affect the cost of laser gum surgery include the severity of your gum disease, the technology used, where your dentist is located, and whether or not you need additional services. However, even if you don't have dental insurance, there are financing options available to help make the cost of laser gum surgery more affordable to help make the cost of laser gum surgery more affordable.