Is LANAP Treatment Painful?

Traditional surgical treatment approaches for periodontal disease, typically osseous surgeries, rely on scalpels and sutures to remove diseased tissue and reattach the border of the remaining healthy tissue around the teeth and bone. Laser-assisted therapies like LANAP, which stands for laser-assisted new attachment procedure, are considerably less invasive and therefore much less painful.

The goal of any dental treatment is to retain the maximal amount of healthy, natural oral tissues – the teeth, the gums, the connective tissue, and the bone. Treating gum disease before it progresses is one of the best ways to prevent the need for invasive procedures and avoid the possibility of potentially painful treatments. When gum disease is allowed to progress, another way to avoid the pain associated with periodontal treatments is to choose LANAP. While both osseous surgery and LANAP have high success rates, recovery from LANAP is significantly less painful than traditional osseous surgery and is an optimal way to retain and revitalize healthy tissue.

If you’re worried about pain or discomfort, talk to your periodontist; they’ll give you an honest assessment of what to expect from your LANAP surgery. Most patients who undergo LANAP with local anesthetic report no discomfort during the procedure at all, but if you continue to worry about pain, or if you’re simply anxious about dental procedures, ask about your options for sedation during your procedure. While local anesthesia is sufficient for many patients who receive LANAP surgery, many dentists offer various sedation dentistry options, typically offering oral sedation or nitrous oxide. Deeper sedation methods, like intravenous and intramuscular options, are usually reserved for lengthier or more invasive procedures.

Before LANAP begins, a local anesthetic is administered. Then, the teeth are cleaned before the LANAP laser filament is placed below your gums, removing damaged tissue while having zero impact on the surrounding tissue. After the diseased tissue is removed, the periodontist scales the teeth, removing accumulated tartar from newly restored pockets with an ultrasonic tool, before returning to the laser to disinfect and seal the restored pocket. This final use of the specialized laser sterilizes the area while it stimulates the growth of new cells and helps the body form healthy tissues. If needed, the periodontist will make minor adjustments to improve the aesthetics of LANAP; otherwise, the LANAP procedure is complete.

If you received sedation, you’ll need to wait until these effects subside before attempting to do anything, and all patients should wait until the effects of the local anesthetic wear off before trying to drink anything. You’ll receive specific aftercare instructions to take home, but you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day – no vigorous exercise or heavy lifting, and don’t prod or disturb the healing tissues with your tongue or with anything else.

For the first week, a soft, mild diet is recommended, though by day two or three, most patients report only mild soreness and can otherwise return to their normal routine. Because the LANAP laser treats so precisely and seals the tissues as efficiently as it does, damage to the nerves is minimal, and pain is prevented at the source. When discomfort does show up, it’s easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. It takes about two weeks for the gums to return to a healthy, supple appearance, though the tissues will continue to heal and strengthen over the next several weeks – and, with your continued care, they’ll keep on protecting your tooth roots and bones long into your future.

Related Article: Do Gums Grow Back After LANAP?