What is LANAP?
Gingivitis and periodontitis can disrupt your oral health by infecting the soft gum tissues and eroding the underlying jawbone that supports the teeth. If not treated at the right time, gum disease can severely affect the aesthetics of your smile and even cause tooth loss. Early detection and treatment can help you maintain optimum oral health.
How is gum disease treated conventionally?
Dental practices that do not utilize state-of-the-art technology could be using the same conventional way of treating gum diseases. The dentist diagnoses the condition and suggests suitable treatment. The decayed gum tissues are then surgically removed by making incisions. The wounds are covered and sutures are placed. If the volume of tissues in the gums is less, a gum graft may be necessary to replenish it. Additionally, medication may be recommended to halt the spread of the infection and reduce its severity.
What is LANAP and how does it compare to conventional treatment?
At Modern Dental of Manhattan, we use LANAP to treat gum disease. LANAP stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. Using laser light energy, we can target decayed gum tissues while keeping healthy tissues intact. LANAP is currently the only laser gum treatment that has been approved by the FDA. Here are some of the benefits of using LANAP over conventional methods:
- Significantly less pain and bleeding
- Lesser sensitivity of the teeth after the procedure is completed
- Lesser loss of natural gum tissues
- Little or no swelling after the procedure
- The healing period after the treatment is minimal
- The supporting gum tissues can be regenerated
- The chances of contracting an infection after the procedure are lesser
How is the procedure conducted?
The procedure includes the following steps:
- The depth of your periodontal pockets will be determined with the help of a periodontal probe.
- A highly intense laser beam is used to vaporize the infected gum tissues and eliminate the bacteria instantly. The dentist can also determine the presence of tartar on the tooth roots.
- An ultrasonic scaling device is used to remove the plaque and tartar from the tooth and root surfaces. It is also used to smooth out the surface of the teeth roots.
- Minor surgery may be required to modify the bone structure if there is jawbone deterioration.
- The volume of gum tissues will be replenished using a gel-clot prepared to utilize the stem cells from PDL and bone.
- The gum tissues will be reattached to the cleaned and prepared root surfaces. This forms a closed system by sealing the gum pockets.
- The teeth may be reshaped and restored to adjust the occlusal trauma.
Please call us at (212) 758-1000
or schedule an appointment online to have a consultation with our dentists. We are always happy to help.