Does LANAP Really Work?
Traditional approaches to the treatment of periodontal disease are effective at removing disease and restoring the oral cavity to health, but they’re invasive and tend to have longer, occasionally uncomfortable healing times. In these traditional methods, the dentist removes disease and infection with a scalpel, cutting away periodontal tissue, scraping the teeth, and stitching the gums back into place. The LANAP protocol uses specialized lasers to remove diseased gum tissue and sculpt the gum line; these lasers, in the process, kill bacteria and sterilize the oral cavity, fostering a supportive environment for the development of healthy tissue.
The LANAP protocol has also been shown to encourage the regrowth of healthy soft tissues, though there is currently scarce evidence that it helps bone regrow. LANAP treatment has impressively high success rates, with 98% of patients reporting long-term success, though this is obviously affected by your adherence to aftercare instructions and your own lifestyle and hygiene choices. Of course, if you’re considering LANAP, you may already understand how things like smoking, failing to visit your dentist, or forgetting to brush and floss can lead to periodontal disease. Needless to say, LANAP won’t prevent gum disease on its own, but it can help encourage the continued health and integrity of the periodontal tissues.
There is evidence that LANAP is more effective at preventing tooth loss than traditional periodontal treatments. Studies also show that patients who’ve had LANAP treatment have notably lower recurrences of periodontal disease. There are two overarching reasons for such clear successes:
- The precision of the LANAP laser is unparalleled. This laser is able to precisely target bacteria and infected tissue, obliterating them while maintaining the stability and integrity of the surrounding tissues and helping new, healthy tissue return to its protective place around the jawbone and tooth roots. It can also pinpoint the depths of existing periodontal pockets to destroy hidden bacteria without destroying nearby healthy tissue.
- LANAP can help new tissue develop. In addition to removing disease, infection, and tartar, the LANAP laser is used to create a blood clot that seals the tissue, a sort of fibrin protein suture that will help new, healthy tissue regenerate. LANAP has also been shown to increase gingival attachment, which helps keep bacteria away from the tooth roots and helps prevent periodontal pockets from forming.
In most cases, periodontists complete the LANAP protocol in two treatments, scheduled a few days apart, treating half the mouth at a time, though in cases of severe periodontal disease, more treatments may be needed. This allows patients to use part of their mouth while the other part heals. One of the benefits of quick healing times is that patients can return to a thorough oral hygiene routine shortly after treatment. To ensure the benefits of LANAP last long after you’re fully healed, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene habits and see your dentist regularly. Remember that gum disease can be difficult to detect without regular dental checkups, and don’t take any chances on letting it progress, undoing all the good that LANAP does. The truth is, yes, LANAP does really work, but not without your consistent support and cooperation.
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