Treat Gum Disease Fast and Efficiently with LANAP
Unfortunately, periodontal disease is a common and frequently ignored illness that many people leave untreated until advanced stage symptoms such as bleeding or receding gums.
Most sufferers are unaware of the effect that periodontal disease has on other medical conditions which is a big reason why periodontal disease doesn’t garner the attention that it deserves. Studies have linked periodontal, or gum, disease to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
Thankfully, periodontal disease sufferers have more options for noninvasive treatments than ever. Houston periodontist Dr. Marie-Claire Tredinick successfully treats gum disease using the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP).
Bleeding Gums- Does this mean I Have Gum Disease?
Not necessarily, but because periodontal disease progresses in stages starting with inflammation and bleeding gums, it’s important to have Dr. Tredinick evaluate your teeth and gums to determine whether you need specialized treatment for periodontal disease. This may save you from the later stages of gum disease that involve tooth loss and bone deterioration.
LANAP Laser Treatment- What is it?
LANAP is a laser surgical procedure that eliminates the bacteria causing bleeding gums, inflammation and other symptoms of gum disease. LANAP is performed with the PerioLase® MVP-7® and is the only FDA-cleared protocol for periodontal disease treatment. This laser procedure is offered and preferred by patients as they experience less pain and discomfort than with traditional surgery.
Should I Consider LANAP?
Any patient with periodontal disease is generally a good candidate for LANAP laser treatment. If you suffer from bleeding gums or loose teeth, book a consultation where our periodontist can help you determine whether this is the right procedure for you.
Dr. Tredinick is trained and certified in the use of LANAP using the PerioLase® MVP-7®. This laser gum surgery can treat bone loss, inflammation and bleeding gums, without the scalpel and sutures associated with traditional surgery.
LANAP Laser Treatment- Basic Steps
LANAP is a minimally invasive gum surgery alternative offered by Dr. Tredinick to patients with gum disease. The procedure is scheduled in two separate sessions of two hours each, usually divided into the right or left side of the mouth. LANAP allows patients to undergo treatment for advanced periodontal disease without enduring the pain and discomfort created by the use of sutures or scalpels.
LANAP Laser Gum Disease Treatment
The procedure begins with measuring your gum pockets with a probe to assess their depth and the amount of loss attachment. The laser is then used to selectively target and remove any diseased tissue and bacteria from your mouth. The pulsed laser wavelength is able to distinguish healthy versus diseased tissue, leaving your health gums intact.
The calculus from your teeth is displaced with the aid of ultrasonic scalers. The doctor will then re-use the laser to agitate the bone soft tissue, and tooth root. This causes a bit of blood to accumulate around the teeth, but don’t worry, the blood is used to seal the healing environment. To finish your procedure, the periodontist ends by pressing the gum tissue against the roots of the teeth.
No scalpels or sutures are used in LANAP. The periodontist will adjust your bite and evaluate your teeth to assess any impact you may have experienced as a result of LANAP laser gum treatment.
Post-Procedure Instructions
Dr. Tredinick will discuss any post-procedure instructions or dietary restrictions prior to the LANAP laser treatment. Most patients find that they can manage any discomfort using over-the-counter pain medication and return to work the following day.
Traditional Surgery vs. Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP)
Due to the low pain and fast recovery LANAP offers compared to traditional surgery, Dr. Tredinick rarely prescribes pain medication after this procedure.
Within the first session of LANAP laser treatment, the inflammation in your mouth is significantly reduced resulting in better oral health almost instantly.
Comparatively, traditional surgery would require cutting into healthy gum tissue to allow access and visibility to the treatment site. This method, in itself, can create gum recession. Traditional surgery has been shown to cause gum recession in ranges as small as two millimeters to as large as 15 millimeters. However, the LANAP laser gum disease treatment does not require the cutting or subsequent suturing of healthy tissue. Dr. Tredinick uses the laser to eradicate diseased tissue only.
This gum surgery alternative has far-reaching benefits that cannot be matched by traditional surgery. LANAP allows dr. Tredinick to stimulate the bone and tooth root, catalyzing the regeneration of your bone, and reversing the effects of periodontal disease. It is possible to save your teeth, which if treated by any other means would have needed extraction.
Schedule Your Evaluation
Do you need periodontal disease treatment? Consider having LANAP laser treatment. This gum surgery alternative has proved successful for thousands of other patients around the country who wanted a less painful, less invasive way to treat periodontal disease.
Message us online or call Coastal Periodontics at 713-977-7854 to schedule your evaluation.