LANAP in Westchester NY
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is one of the biggest concerns that we face when it comes to our oral health. Most people don’t realize they have periodontal disease until they start noticing their gum line receding or when their teeth become very sensitive to hot and cold food and drink. By then, it’s usually a bit too late to recover from the problem and you may need to undergo oral surgery in order to treat it.
In fact, statistics from the CDC show that around 47.2% of adults aged 30 years and old have some form of periodontal disease. In adults aged 65 or older, this rises to a staggering 70.1% of adults. This shows that periodontal disease shouldn’t be taken lightly. While it might be slow-acting, the damage it causes is often irreversible and may lead to more serious complications later in life. As such, dealing with it as soon as possible is often the best course of action.
What is LANAP and how does it help treat periodontal disease?
LANAP (Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is at the forefront of laser treatment technology. It is a patented method that is approved by the FDA, so you can rest assured knowing that it’s a safe and very common method of treating periodontal disease.
How does LANAP work?
LANAP is a minimally-invasive
gum disease treatment that uses a dental laser to remove diseased gum tissue with a highly specific light frequency. The laser kills bacteria in the mouth and around the gum which encourages it to heal and grow new tissue as it removes diseased tissue. This dual-action process can help your gums heal while also getting rid of any infected tissue that could lead to a more serious case of gum disease.
What are the benefits of LANAP?
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Minimally invasive, meaning there is no cutting or incisions required in order to remove the infected tissue
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Allows your mouth to heal more quickly, resulting in less downtime so you can return to your work as soon as possible
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Doesn’t remove gum tissue. Instead, it just removes the inflammation by targeting it with the specialized dental laser
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Offers much more noticeable results than traditional gum disease surgery
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Far lower chance of infection, bleeding, and pain after the procedure
Is LANAP suitable for me?
LANAP is most commonly used for gum disease. However, it can often be used to clean the mouth of bacteria and could also be used to treat cold sores and mouth ulcers. For specific uses of LANAP outside of treating periodontal disease, please get in touch with our team at the Advanced Dentistry of Scarsdale to see if LANAP is suitable for your circumstances.
How is LANAP performed?
LANAP starts by treating the mouth with antibiotics and local anesthesia to ensure that you are comfortable during the procedure. This reduces any discomfort and also minimizes the chances that your mouth will become infected.
Next, we will use bone sounding to get an idea of how large the pockets between your teeth and your gums are. This tells us how far the gum disease has progressed and will be essential information when they begin to use the laser. Next, the laser is used in the affected areas to reduce and disinfect pathogens. Using a very specific light frequency, destroys pathogens and sterilizes the mouth to reduce the chance of infection.
Once the laser has disinfected the pockets between the gums and teeth, a high-powered ultrasonic scaler is used to remove any calcified plaque, calculus, and debris from the surface of the tooth’s root. We will switch back to the laser to finish disinfecting the pocket and also create a fibrin clot that will prevent food particles and bacteria from entering the pocket. This ensures that your mouth has time to heal without being affected.
In most cases, you’ll be asked to return for follow-up LANAP treatments. The teeth will be regularly cleaned and assessed to ensure that you do not experience any side effects. Your bite will also be examined in case you are experiencing any irregularities when using your teeth.
How long does LANAP take?
In most cases, you can expect the complete procedure to take 4 hours. However, this will be split into two 2-hour appointments. We will work on one side of your mouth during each appointment and there is usually a one-week break between the first and second visit. This gives your mouth time to heal before we perform the procedure again on the other side of your mouth.
Is there any downtime after LANAP?
Since LANAP is a surgical procedure, your body may take a while to adjust after the procedure is completed. You may experience some discomfort and soreness, but this can be treated using medication that we will provide. You may also be asked to wear splints to stabilize your teeth, but this will likely only be required under severe conditions. You may need to visit us several times during this recovery period.
You also may be instructed to avoid brushing or flossing for around a week after the treatment takes place. It’s also possible that you’ll be recommended to follow a soft food diet so that you don’t stress out your teeth immediately after the procedure. You should pay attention to your periodontist's advice to ensure that your teeth are given plenty of time to heal between treatments.
Get in touch for more information
If you’d like to learn more about LANAP or have questions about the procedure, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today. Our team at the Advanced Dentistry of Scarsdale would be more than happy to answer your questions and help schedule a consultation to see if you’re a suitable candidate for LANAP. If you’re unsure if you have periodontal disease, then we’d highly recommend a dental examination.
Contact us today!
