Laser Dentistry with
LANAP® & LAPIP™ Protocols
A laser-based treatment for gum disease
LANAP® Protocol: How It Works
The LANAP® protocol offers a laser-based treatment for treating gum disease, which eliminates the need for cutting and suturing. Patients consistently report less pain and discomfort during and after the procedure, compared to traditional periodontal surgery. This patient-friendly procedure allows for a comfortable path to get you healthy again without fear. Generally, the LANAP protocol is a less invasive alternative to traditional surgery that will help you maintain a beautiful smile.
The LANAP protocol represents a 2004 FDA-cleared, patented treatment for periodontal issues. The procedure can only be done with the PerioLase® MVP-7; a laser that is responsible for attacking bacteria that contributes to gum disease, while leaving healthy tissue intact. This procedure significantly minimizes post-surgical recession and tooth sensitivity, compared to traditional gum surgery.
Patient Benefits
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Faster Healing – LANAP® is minimally invasive and allows the body to recover and heal more quickly.
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Less Discomfort – Patients have reported less discomfort during and after surgery.
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Minimal Recovery Time – The majority of patients can immediately return to their daily routine.
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Little to No Gum Recession – Due to the procedure not requiring cutting the gums, there is a reduced risk of gum recession and your beautiful smile is maintained.
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Reduction in Gum Inflammation and Bleeding – The PerioLase® MVP-7™ targets inflammatory bacteria without injuring healthy tissue.
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Saves Teeth – Patients can retain their natural teeth, even when they were previously considered ‘hopeless’ with traditional treatments. Keeping your natural teeth has been linked to a longer lifespan!
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Safe for patients with Health Concerns –LANAP® protocol is safe for patients with health concerns such as diabetes, HIV, hemophilia, or those taking medications such as Plavix or aspirin.
What to Expect
FAQs
Who is a candidate for LANAP laser surgery?
Patients with moderate to severe gum disease can especially benefit from the LANAP® protocol. The LANAP protocol is also an excellent treatment option for patients who are fearful of conventional scalpel surgery and patients taking certain medications, such as blood thinners. With the LANAP protocol, patients do not have to stop taking any medications.
Why is it important to get my gum disease treated?
The health risks of gum disease go far beyond the loss of teeth. There is a connection between gum disease and a number of serious medical conditions. People with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease, and have nearly twice the risk of having a fatal heart attack. Gum disease has respiratory disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, certain cancers, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, erectile dysfunction, HPV, and pregnancy complications.
Can the LANAP protocol help my loose dental implants?
Yes! Using the PerioLase® MVP-7™, we can often save ailing or failing implants using the LAPIP® protocol. We use the same laser, but different laser settings and light exposure to help your implant stabilize while destroying periodontal pathogens and endotoxins.
PerioLase® MVP-7™
LAPIP™ Protocol: How It Works
The LAPIP™ protocol is a minimally invasive method to treating ailing and failing dental implants. The LAPIP protocol is the only patient-friendly, predictable solution for ailing implants. Studies have found that 95% of implants with peri-implantitis treated with the LAPIP protocol have reintegrated in the pocket and stabilized with bone growth of 3-8 threads.
The LAPIP protocol allows the removal of only disease tissue without removing any healthy tissue. This treatment closes the periodontal pocket wound to allow healing to take place. LAPIP eliminates infection, helps maintain the height of the tissue around implants, and minimizes pain and discomfort to the patient. The LAPIP protocol is a no-risk, first-line treatment that preserves other treatment options. Controlling peri-implant disease makes it possible to save and protect your implant investment.
LAPIP Treatment Can Help Protect Your Implant Investment:
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Stop progression of peri-implant disease
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Destroy bacteria causing inflammation
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Save healthy gum tissues
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Encourage new bone growth
Peri-Implant Disease
Peri-Implant Disease Mimics Periodontal Disease
Implants, on their own, are not susceptible to disease, but the surrounding tissue can become infected. Similar to how periodontal disease (gum disease) begins with minor inflammation that worsens without treatment, peri-implant disease starts as peri-mucositis (minor inflammation around the implant). If left untreated, the inflammation continues until the bone around the implant erodes and the implant becomes loose. Various factors can trigger the initial inflammation, including existing periodontal bacteria, foreign substances wedged in your gums around the implant, and even misaligned implant connectors.
Signs/Symptoms of Moderate to Advanced Peri-Implantitis
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Swelling in the gums
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Implant mobility
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Bleeding gums
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Change in gum color surrounding implant
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High gum sensitivity
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Implant exposure (gum recession prevents adherence to the implant or crown surface)
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Mild to severe pain around implant site
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Excretion of pus from the implants surrounding tissues
PerioLase® MVP-7™
PerioLase® MVP-7™
The The PerioLase MVP-7 is the only dental laser specifically designed for better periodontal health. The unique wavelength targets the bacteria that causes gum disease for minimally invasive, highly effective treatment.
Patient Benefits
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Most patients need just one appointment
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Less pain and more comfortable healing than other surgical options
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Kills bacteria without harming healthy tissue
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Minimizes gum recession for a confident smile
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100% natural - no foreign materials or growth factors used
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Safe for medically compromised patients, those on blood thinners, or those with diabetes
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No cutting and no stitches leads to less recession
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No bone grafting
What to Expect
The LAPIP procedure will be performed using a local anesthetic in our office and can often be done at the same appointment as diagnosis. We consider patient education and comfort to be the fundamental building blocks of our approach to caring for you in our office. We consistently aim to establish transparent communication of expectations to enhance treatment outcomes. Our team will explain all aspects of the procedure before we begin and provide detailed instructions on oral hygiene post-treatment to ensure the best possible recovery.
Depending on the type of implant, we may recommend removing the implant crown.
Once the area around your implant is cleaned, a tiny laser fiber (about the width of three human hairs) is gently inserted into the infected area around the implant. The specific configurations and wavelength of the PerioLase MVP-7 vaporize bacteria triggering the inflection and stimulates the regeneration of healthy tissue.
Most patients can resume their normal routine that day or the next with minor modifications to support a successful outcome:
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No brushing or flossing for the first week
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Maintain a soft diet for the prescribed amount of time
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No smoking or tobacco use during recovery
Your involvement is critical to a successful outcome. Our office will schedule a follow-up visit to monitor your healing and make adjustments as needed.
FAQs
What is Peri-Implantitis?
Peri-Implantitis is an infection occurring around a dental implant. Gums may be red, inflamed, or receding. This infection causes bone loss and eventual loss of the implant itself.
What is the difference between Peri-Mucositis and Peri-Implantitis?
Both are an infection around the implant; peri-mucositis is the early stages of the infection and does not involve bone loss. Peri-implantitis is the progression of the infection that includes bone loss.
What happens if I don't treat Peri-Implantitis?
If you choose not to treat the infection around your implant, it will continue to progress and destroy the bone. The implant will become loose and may actually fall out; the infection can spread to the teeth around the implant.
What causes Peri-Implantitis?
Just as there are many causes of gum disease, there are many causes of peri-implant infections, including poor oral care and grinding your teeth. Risk factors include medical issues such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and a poor immune system. Smokers and patients with an initial diagnosis of gum disease are at higher risk of implant loss.