A gentler way to treat gum disease
LANAP® (the Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is an FDA-cleared laser treatment for moderate to advanced gum disease. Instead of cutting the gums with a scalpel and stitching them back into place, your periodontist uses a precise dental laser to remove only the diseased tissue and bacteria deep in the gum pockets, leaving the healthy tissue intact.
The result is a more comfortable experience that helps your gums reattach to the teeth and supports the regeneration of lost bone, all with far less downtime than conventional periodontal surgery.
The benefits of LANAP®
- No cutting and no suturing: the laser gently targets diseased tissue while preserving the healthy gum around it.
- Less discomfort during and after the procedure, with minimal bleeding and swelling.
- Fewer, shorter visits: typically two appointments instead of the four often needed for traditional surgery.
- Quick recovery: most patients return to their normal routine in about a day.
- Helps save your teeth by stabilizing gum health and supporting bone regeneration.
- Can be a good option for patients with certain health concerns or who take blood thinners such as Plavix® or aspirin.
How LANAP® differs from traditional gum surgery
Both treat gum disease effectively; the difference is in the experience and the recovery.
Traditional gum surgery
- Gums are cut with a scalpel and pulled back to clean the infected areas.
- Tissue is stitched back into place, then sutures are removed at a later visit.
- Often means longer recovery, more discomfort, and some gum recession.
- Typically four sessions plus follow-ups for suture removal.
LANAP® laser treatment
- A laser selectively removes diseased tissue without harming healthy areas.
- No incisions and no stitches, so there's less trauma to the gums.
- Reduced risk of infection and a more comfortable healing process.
- Usually just two visits, with recovery measured in days, not weeks.
LAPIP® for ailing implants
The same laser technology can also rescue dental implants threatened by peri-implant disease. LAPIP® (the Laser-Assisted Peri-Implantitis Procedure) treats the infection and inflammation around a failing implant, gently, and without the cutting and suturing of traditional implant-rescue surgery, to help you keep the implant you already have.