LANAP
Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure
People all over the world suffer from oral diseases affecting the teeth and gums. Research shows that in both the United States and United Kingdom approximately 90 percent of people will be affected by gum disease at some point in their lives. Symptoms may vary from bad breath, metallic taste, inflammation or swelling of the gum tissue to bleeding, teeth decay, loose teeth, tooth loss and damage to the jaw bone.
Many of us may not understand the intricacies of developing or treating an oral disease, such as periodontitis and gingivitis. Visiting our dentist for regular check-ups is how we learn to understand our own dental health condition, whether or not we have a gum disease that needs treating and how best to look after our teeth and gums.
Dental scientists are involved in researching treatment options for oral conditions and diseases, to improve on earlier treatment procedures, to educate the general public, and for best patient care. Two pioneers in dentistry, Dr. Robert H. Gregg II and Dr. Delwin McCarthy, have evaluated surgical options for gum disease and have harnessed the use of advanced laser technology called the PerioLase MVP-7 or for short “YAG laser” to explore treatments for periodontitis and gingivitis.
Through their research, Drs Gregg II and McCarthy have found a procedure that produces highly effective results for treating oral diseases like periodontitis, and they have patented this procedure as Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) to be approved for international use. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved LANAP for treating gum diseases in 2004.
What conditions are treated with LANAP?
The PerioLase laser used for Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) can treat a range of conditions because the settings are easily adjustable and because the menu can be programmed according to the necessary procedure whether for haemostasis, implant surgeries (second-stage), biopsies, frenectomies, and gingivectomies.
The two main gum diseases treated with LANAP procedures are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is sometimes termed non-destructive periodontal disease where patients experience inflammation and bleeding of the gums resulting from build-up of plaque. The gingivitis can spread through bacterial infection to periodontitis causing the gums and bone structure in the mouth to deteriorate. The teeth can become separated from the gums and surrounding bone structures through infected pockets containing tartar.
LANAP can be used to remove the decayed portion of teeth, such as the tartar and bacterial infection, and can then be used to prepare teeth for further treatment, like fillings or crowns. Similar to root canal treatment, this procedure can remove infection from gum tissue and reshape gum tissue.
In particular, LANAP can painlessly and safely provide connective tissue attachments where the epithelium between the connecting tissue and membranes is missing due to damage, and can also restore the periodontal ligament fibres that connect the alveolar bone to the cementum (calcified substance anchoring the tooth root). Call West Pasco Family Dental today to set up a free consultation regarding the LANAP preocedure.
LANAP as a treatment for Periodontitis
Periodontitis gum disease
Periodontitis is a destructive gum disease that develops from gingivitis. When plaque builds up around the teeth and gums, it can cause inflammation of the gum tissue and bleeding. This is known as gingivitis. If left untreated and if bacteria takes hold causing more bacteria-infected plaque and tartar build-up, the entire tooth structure can rot, become loose and fall out.
Destructive anaerobic microorganisms consume the bone, gum and cementum (connective tissue) for food. The action of this bacterial disease can cause gum tissue to become severely painful and bleed because of the infected tartar calculus present in the gum tissue and below the gum line in the periodontal pockets and roots.
As the gums and teeth rot with infectious disease, the connecting tissues and also the periodontal ligament fibres between the alveolar bone and cementum can be destroyed. People with gingivitis and Periodontitis are not only at risk of tooth loss, misaligned teeth structure, and jaw or facial deformities, but are also at risk of having the infection spread to the rest of their body causing hypertension, heart disease, and conditions like migraine.