LANAP
LANAP stands for "Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure". This is a technique developed by Dr. Robert Gregg and Dr. Del McCarthy from Cerritos, California (Los Angeles area). This amazing periodontal surgery uses a complex Free running Pulsed Nd: YAG laser to enter the diseased “periodontal pockets” … killing the bacterium causing the gum infection disease known as periodontitis. It also ablates the damaged epithelium tissue (inner lining of the periodontal pocket around teeth) without damaging the underlining connective tissue and healthy support. This allows the dentist access to clean the root surface and then “seal” off the pocket with a hemostatic fibrin clot using a higher laser setting.
The results are truly amazing with very rapid healing time, minimal to no discomfort, natural regeneration of supporting bone and periodontal ligament rather than the resective nature of traditional gum surgery. Patients have been very pleased with this new alternative to the cutting, flaps and suture aspect of traditional periodontal surgery.
In this example above, the left side is an x-ray of severe bone loss around the middle and back side (distal) of a lower right 1st molar from advanced periodontal disease. The “pocket depths” were greater than 10 mm. A very brief LANAP treatment was done here at Dental Arts and 9 months later the x-ray on the right shows outstanding bone (foundation) regeneration for this tooth. The probing of the gum around the tooth demonstrated a “tight” healthy gum attachment of a normal 3 mm or less. Not all results will always be as good as this … but this new modality is truly amazing.
