LANAP in Marin County California stands for laser assisted new attachment procedure and is used to treat periodontal disease in patients who are suffering from gum recession and bone deterioration. In periodontal disease, the attachments of your gum tissue becomes damaged by an infection in the gum pocket which can cause your teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. Treating damaged gum tissue and bone structure is crucial to the survival of your teeth and the overall health of your body. Laser therapy helps stimulate healthy gum tissue to create healthy new attachments.
Treating Gum Tissue With LANAP
Traditional gum surgery uses a scalpel and sutures to remove infection. Your doctor will make an incision in the gum tissue and fold back the area to expose the damaged bone structure. A bone graft may be placed before the gum tissue is trimmed and sutured back into place. Recovering from traditional gum surgery can take a couple of weeks and is usually much more painful than laser therapy.
Laser therapy emits a specific light frequency targeted to eliminate diseased gum tissue which is distinguishable from healthy tissue because it is darker. The laser also kills bacteria in the mouth which helps speed the healing process and encourages new tissue growth.
How effective is LANAP gum therapy?
Laser therapy has shown positive results with less tooth loss than that after traditional surgery. It has also been shown to increase the growth of new attachments between gum and bone after treatment and aids in gum regeneration. Long-term results include less recurrence of periodontal disease overtime in comparison to traditional surgery. The laser kills bacteria in the mouth that causes the disease and improves the health of the tissue which allows the tissue to form new attachments and heal closer to the tooth structure. This helps protect the gum tissue and teeth from future infection.
Laser therapy does not necessarily regrow gum and bone structure but it does provide a healthy environment for gum tissue and bone structure to regenerate during the healing process. Patients who have undergone laser therapy also have an easier time with home care and are able to better prevent a recurrence of infection.
Since no cutting or suturing is involved, the gum tissue has an easier time healing and the patient is able to return to normal activities within 1 to 2 days. If you are suffering from periodontal disease with gum recession and bone loss, speak with your dentist to see if laser therapy might be a good option for you.