Laser Assisted Regeneration (LAR) with LANAP
The LANAP protocol, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is an alternative to conventional surgery for periodontitis that offers patients less pain and a more successful recovery. Research demonstrates that LANAP=LAR results in gum tissue regeneration, reattachment and new bone growth.
PerioLase MVP-7 laser gum therapy is used in LANAP=LAR. This is a variably pulsed, free running Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser. Seven pulse durations allow the single laser to be used on seven different settings, each with a distinct interaction with gum tissue.
The reason behind LANAP=LAR’s successful outcomes in treating periodontitis is its ability to target the bacteria and diseased tissue that lead to inflammation without damaging healthy tissue. LANAP=LAR treatment slows or stops the loss of tissue attachment from the tooth root, decreases the depth of gum pockets and allow the body to regenerate healthy tissue without the use of sutures or scalpels.
The “No Cut, No Sew, No Fear” Slogan
Developed as shorthand to help patients understand the distinction between the LANAP procedure and conventional periodontal surgery, “No Cut, No Sew, No Fear” helps increase patient acceptance of the procedure. By eliminating the fear of the procedure in their patients, dental practitioners encourage more patients to receive the treatment they need for their advanced periodontal disease.
Benefits for Patients:
• Fewer post-treatment infections
• Patients perceive treatment as faster than traditional surgery
• Patients perceive treatment as more comfortable than traditional surgery
• Reduced bleeding
• Reduced gum loss
• Reduced pain
• Reduced sensitivity
• Reduced swelling
• Regeneration of tissues supporting the gums
• Short downtime post-treatment
How Does LANAP Work?
LANAP uses laser physics to treat periodontitis. The PerioLase MVP-7 Nd:YAG (neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet) dental laser at 1064 nanometer (nm) wavelength interacts with gum tissue in a unique way. Namely, the 1064 nm wavelength passes through the water and the hydroxyapatite (a mineral in tooth enamel) in the mouth but gets absorbed by hemoglobin and melanin (two proteins).
This property allows this particular wavelength to target the diseased tissue of the gum while leaving the healthy gum tissue alone. Laser light kills bacteria effectively because it penetrates 4 millimeters into the surface of the gum. Once the bacteria is cleaned away, hemoglobin and the laser interact to form a clot and the tissue regeneration begins.
Why LANAP
Since 85 percent of American adults have gum disease, timely treatment of it is a dental priority. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart attack, some forms of cancer, and other serious systemic conditions. Strengthening gum health can help patients reduce or possibly avoid many long-term health consequences.
The Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure, or LANAP, Protocol is a method dentists can use to regenerate bone tissue around teeth. This system uses an FDA-cleared laser tool called the PerioLase® MVP-7™. In addition to FDA-clearance, this system has been researched by dentists and is an established part of the evidence-based dentistry arsenal.
During the LANAP Protocol, patients are able to relax. This is because this procedure is minimally invasive and painless. Such a reduction in fear is part of the reason 90 percent of patients agree to undergo LANAP treatment.
Another factor boosting patient confidence is that dentists using LANAP know they are offering patients a research-based solution that has been developed by other dentists. Treatment using the LANAP Protocol actively provokes the body’s regenerative response. Moreover, this LANAP laser gum therapy and treatment kills endotoxins and bacteria that are harmful to dental health.
The LANAP Protocol is a safe, effective means to treat gum disease. Patients are happy with the results of this noninvasive procedure. Therefore, word-of-mouth referrals frequently recruit new patients.
For dentists, the return on investment is much more than money or prestige. The LANAP Protocol can bring in patients that are unwilling to undergo painful or invasive dental procedures. Such dental-phobic or reluctant patients are then able to receive the life-saving, tooth-sparing dental care they deserve.
The LANAP Protocol
- A periodontal probes shows the gum pocket is excessively deep
B. Laser light targets bacteria and diseased tissue
C. A dental practitioner removes calculus and plaque from the root surface with hand instruments and an ultrasonic scaler
D. Bone modifications are made during surgery
E. Laser and hemoglobin interact to form a clot
F. Reté ridges are reattached to the tooth root’s surface, closing the system
G. The practitioner makes adjustments to make sure the teeth align properly
H. As the clot heals, the new tissue will attach to the tooth root surfaceRather than relying on gum resectioning, the LANAP procedure allows for true gum issue regeneration. Compared to resectioning, LANAP offers patients enhanced confidence in their smile, less tooth sensitivity and greater post-operative comfort.
LANAP Procedure: What to Expect
One of the only gum disease treatments done through a laser that has been cleared by the FDA based on scientific evidence for True Regeneration is the LANAP protocol. To put it simply, LANAP has been shown through scientific research to regrow bone and tissues that were lost due to gum disease. Compared with osseous surgery, a more traditional approach, patients have found the LANAP protocol to be not as painful with less sensitivity during post-op, less gum recession, and almost no downtime once the treatment is complete.
Laser-Assisted Regeneration (LAR) With LANAP
LANAP is a laser treatment that has been approved by the FDA to offer a more effective alternative to traditional surgery and has proven to be less painful. This laser-assisted regeneration procedure has been scientifically proven through research methodology to generate true periodontal regeneration, along with gum tissue reattachment and new bone growth. LAR and LANAP together are achieved through the use of the PerioLase MPV-7 laser. This is an Nd:YAG laser that is variably pulsed and free-running. There are 7 adjustable pulse durations that can be considered as 7 different lasers inside of one device. The tissue interactions are discriminating and discrete. The reason why LANAP laser-assisted regeneration is so successful in the treatment of gum disease is due to the laser’s ability to target inflammation sources without having to remove or hurt healthy gum tissue or stop or slow attachment loss and reduce pocket depth, so the body can recover from any chronic infections without the use of sutures or a scalpel.
EXPECTATIONS DURING TREATMENT
LANAP laser-assisted regeneration surgery takes an entire month to complete. The procedure is comprised of two visits that take up to 2 hours a piece. Loose teeth may be splinted during the visits if needed. In the first visit, one side of a patient’s mouth will be completed. One week later during the second and final visit, the second side is completed. Patients usually experience little to no downtime, as they are able to either return to work or resume their activities as usual relatively quickly.
EXPECTATIONS THE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER TREATMENT
Because LANAP is a laser-assisted regeneration procedure, your own pain tolerance will be a factor in how well your body adjusts after surgery. The first couple of days after surgery, the treated areas may experience mild soreness which can be temporarily alleviated by using Ibuprofen. The gum tissues surrounding your teeth may be discolored slightly. Your teeth will be immobilized and stabilized through the use of fabricated splints. It is advised that the splints be worn as prescribed to help your mouth heal. Over the next few months, you should expect your bite to be adjusted several times during follow-up visits to promote healing.
Your dentist will also advise you not to do any of these things after surgery:
• Never floss or brush during the first week to ten days following treatment.
• Soft diets are recommended to promote healing.
• Don’t smoke after surgery, as this can interfere with your body’s healing process by weakening its defense system.
LANAP Treatment Prices
Several variables will determine what your individual cost of the LANAP procedure will be. It’s recommended that you consult with your Sleep Dentistry Defined dentist to discuss any financial options that may be available to you.
