LANAP Gum Disease Treatment – Encinitas, CA
Harness the Power of Lasers to Address Gum Disease
Gum disease isn’t often talked about, but it can have a significant impact on your health and wellbeing. We know that dental patients suffering from gum disease often feel less confident and fear losing their teeth. To help, Dr. Bita is certified in a unique laser gum disease treatment called the LANAP protocol. What exactly is the LANAP procedure, and how does it harness the power of lasers to address gum disease for patients in Encinitas? Continue reading to find out.
Why Choose Bita Farhoumand, DDS, for LANAP Gum Disease Treatment?
- LANAP Certified Clinician
- Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology
- Comfortable, Minimally Invasive Treatment
What Is the LANAP Protocol?
LANAP is an acronym that stands for Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure. That might sound complicated, but the basic idea is easy to understand. Basically, Dr. Bita uses a soft tissue laser to treat diseased tissue and kill the bacteria that causes gum disease. After the LANAP procedure, the gums, which may have previously pulled away from the teeth, can reattach to the tooth roots and begin to truly recover from the infection that was harming them.
What Makes LANAP Unique?
There are numerous ways to address gum disease, and many of them involve the use of lasers. However, the LANAP protocol is unique due to the type of laser that it employs. Dr. Bita uses the special PerioLase® MVP-7™. It emits specific wavelengths of light that target diseased tissue while leaving healthy tissue unharmed. This ensures that there is virtually no collateral damage during the procedure.
Other unique features and benefits of the LANAP protocol include:
- It may be able to prevent tooth extractions, even for patients whose teeth had previously been deemed “hopeless.”
- An astonishing 98% of patients remain stable five years after their LANAP treatment.
- LANAP is minimally invasive, and unlike many traditional treatments, it causes little to no gum recession.
- LANAP promotes true regeneration of the periodontal ligaments and underlying bone.
Of course, LANAP offers other benefits that are common among laser-based procedures. For example, patients experience minimal bleeding. It also facilitates a fast recovery time — much faster than what you would expect from surgery performed with a traditional scalpel. Additionally, the chances of developing an infection after LANAP treatment are next to nothing.
Who Is a Candidate for LANAP?
LANAP is often ideal for patients who are suffering from moderate to severe gum disease. It is suitable for a wide range of patients, including those who smoke, individuals who are at-risk of excessive bleeding during traditional forms of surgery, and people who are on blood thinners. Dr. Bita will assess all relevant factors before determining whether LANAP is a fit for your unique situation.
What Can I Expect During the LANAP Procedure?
Typically, patients are numbed during the LANAP procedure, so you should feel little to nothing while Dr. Bita is working. Once you are ready, a tiny laser (about the width of three human hairs) will be inserted between your teeth and gums. It will target infected areas and thoroughly rid your mouth of harmful bacteria. To finish your session, a different setting on the laser will be used to create a blood clot that seals the pockets between your teeth and gums.
A LANAP session may take a couple of hours. Typically, half of the mouth is treated at a time, so you will need to return for a second treatment at a later date.
Would you like to learn more about LANAP? Contact our office to ask questions or schedule a consultation.