Will LANAP Save My Teeth?

When left unaddressed, periodontal disease gradually destroys the oral tissues and, eventually, causes the teeth to fall out. There are a number of approaches to treatment for periodontitis, but they rely on mechanical methods like scraping away plaque and tartar, surgically removing damaged or destroyed tissue, placing bone or tissue grafts, and suturing healthy tissues into place. These traditional periodontal procedures are highly effective, but they require multiple procedures with long healing times in between, which is not only inconvenient but leaves the oral tissue vulnerable to recurring gum disease and damage. Traditional periodontal treatments can help save the natural teeth, but the timeline, methods, and risks associated with these methods can’t be overlooked. Thankfully, LANAP treatment eliminates these risks and offers a more efficient and less invasive approach to restoring the periodontal tissues and a higher likelihood of saving the teeth.

The LANAP treatment pinpoints the source of inflammation without disturbing any healthy tissue, using a highly specialized laser to remove damaged and diseased tissue and destroy bacteria without making any incisions or requiring any sutures. This is particularly beneficial for patients who take blood thinners or have bleeding conditions, though all patients benefit from reduced bleeding and faster healing. Using a laser with a variable pulse, combined with ultrasonic scaling tools, the periodontist removes plaque, tartar, and diseased tissue below the gums, giving the new, healthy gum tissue a clean tooth surface to reattach to. Then, the dentist uses the laser to generate a clot in the tissue that seals the site to help it heal and reattach to the tooth root.

While nothing, including LANAP, can guarantee the natural teeth won’t fall out, especially when periodontal disease has progressed, the treatment has exceedingly high success rates. Even when the natural teeth can’t be saved, LANAP is highly likely to stop the progression of periodontal disease and confers the added benefit of stimulating healthy tissue growth. The LANAP procedure uses precision lasers to treat inflamed areas without harming the surrounding healthy gingival tissue. Traditional periodontal treatments involve scraping away tartar, snipping diseased tissue, cutting into the gums, and other manual methods that pose a risk to the surrounding tissues and require long, uncomfortable healing times. LANAP surgery poses none of these risks and actually confers a specific benefit of stimulating the regrowth of healthy tissues. As the precision laser tools used in LANAP destroy infected tissue, they also catalyze growth-factor proteins that stimulate the regrowth of periodontal tissues at the cellular level. This helps strengthen the bones and gums and encourages their healthy development.

Of course, you need to do your part in supporting the health of these tissues, too, and the best way to help LANAP save your teeth is by adhering to solid, consistent oral hygiene habits. After all, there’s not much reason to repair things if you’re just going to destroy them again. If you have any underlying conditions or take medications that contribute to gum disease, work with your medical providers to modify or monitor your condition, and if you smoke, work with your doctor or dentist to learn how to quit.

In many cases, gum disease is difficult to detect without routine dental exams, so one of the first lines of defense is a commitment to attending regular checkups and professional cleanings. Making sure to brush and floss regularly will also help and properly will also help keep your teeth and gums healthy and your teeth intact. If you want LANAP to save your teeth, you need to do your part, too.

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