Laser Gum Treatment and Surgery
Laser Dentistry provides a minimally invasive option when you’re facing gum surgery, cavity treatment, and other oral issues.
Laser Dentistry provides a minimally invasive option when you’re facing gum surgery, cavity treatment, and other oral issues.
By combining the right wavelength, the proper pulse durations, and a proven technique, the LANAP protocol delivers consistent, reproducible, regenerative results.
Dentistry has always benefited from technological advances and using lasers to treat patients is the latest innovation available for certain dental procedures. Laser treatments reduce time spent in the dentist’s chair, reduce pain and healing time, and — for some patients — reduce stress by avoiding traditional drills during dental work.
Laser dentistry involves the use of lasers for dental treatments. As opposed to the traditional drills used by dental professionals, lasers offer a quick way to perform dental procedures with less recovery time for the patient.
All lasers work by delivering energy in the form of focused light. When used for dental procedures, the laser acts as a cutting instrument or a vaporizer of tissue with which it comes in contact. When used for teeth whitening, the laser acts as a heat source, enhancing the effect of tooth-bleaching agents.
Traditionally, patients diagnosed with moderate to severe gum disease have undergone scalpel and suture periodontal surgery, a highly invasive and often painful procedure. During the surgery, gums are actually cut in order to scrape tartar off the roots. Drills are then used to reshape the bone. Once this is complete, the gums are repositioned to the tooth with stitches, sometimes along with placement of bone grafts to fill in the defects. Surgery is followed by a lengthy recovery period where repositioned gum tissue and exposed roots can be sensitive, painful, and subject to cavities.
The LANAP protocol, a laser periodontitis treatment, is the first and only specific periodontal protocol to receive FDA clearance for “true regeneration” and has been in widespread use by the dental community for many years. The LANAP protocol is typically performed in a dentist’s office under local anesthesia. Prior to the procedure, the dentist does a periodontal charting and takes X-rays to make a paper diagnosis and determine the extent of the disease syndrome. A tiny laser fiber (about the thickness of three human hairs) is inserted between the tooth and the gum, and the infection and disease are cleared away without cutting the gums. The tooth roots are then thoroughly cleaned of tartar and plaque, and the laser is used again with a different setting to create a stable, firm fibrin blood clot to seal the pocket. The dentist treats one half of the patient’s mouth at each session, and most patients are able to drive themselves back to work or home following the procedure. Dentists typically recommend a soft diet for several days, but in most cases, patients feel well enough to eat their typical diet soon after the procedure.
Less post-operative pain — The LANAP protocol using the PerioLase MVP-7 helps avoid cutting and stitching of the gums. As a result, patients usually have minimal post-operative discomfort.
Fewer sessions — The LANAP protocol requires only one to two sessions with your dentist, each lasting two to three hours, with two follow-up visits. Traditional surgery generally requires several sessions, with subsequent visits for suture removal and additional check-ups.
Quicker recovery time — Most patients are able to return to their regular daily activities immediately following the procedure, which generally requires less than a 24-hour recovery period. Following traditional scalpel & suture surgery, recovery can take two to four weeks, during which patients can experience considerable pain and swelling and may be restricted to liquid or soft diets.
Patients with moderate-to-severe gum disease can especially benefit from the LANAP protocol. The LANAP protocol is also an excellent treatment option for patients who are fearful of conventional scalpel surgery.
The LANAP® Procedure doesn’t take much time at all — just two two-hour sessions versus eight to ten one-hour sessions with conventional surgery. You don’t have to worry about bleeding, stitches, or post-treatment infection, because your gums haven’t been cut.
Some of the primary benefits of LANAP laser surgery as compared to traditional cut-and-sew surgery are:
After LANAP treatment, your gums may be sore for a few days. Generally, the pain can be managed with over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen. Opioids are rarely needed. You will be on a liquid/soft diet for two weeks to help keep your teeth stable during initial healing. Bone can continue to regenerate for 18 months through 3 years. During this time your dentist will schedule regular visits to adjust your bite and check your healing progress.
To mitigate your fears and to provide you with a more comfortable, pain-free experience, discover what our team at Lakeside Dental has to offer in North Barrington, IL. For the soft tissue treatments you’ve been putting off due to fear or recovery time, we welcome you to our office for fast, minimally invasive laser dentistry!
Laser dentistry is another innovation to help dentists and patients maintain optimal oral health. Contact us today to learn more about what laser dentistry can do for you.