When gum disease progresses beyond the earliest stages, professional treatment may be necessary to control infection and protect the teeth and supporting structures. Traditional periodontal treatment can include scaling and root planing, but advances in dental technology have also introduced minimally invasive approaches such as laser gum therapy.
One of the best-known laser treatments for periodontal disease is LANAP®, which stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. This technique uses specialized laser technology as part of periodontal therapy to target diseased tissue and bacteria while working to preserve healthy structures.
At Broadwing Dental Studio in New Rochelle, NY, laser technology is part of a comprehensive approach to periodontal care. Our practice offers LANAP® laser therapy alongside deep cleaning, antimicrobial therapy, periodontal maintenance, and other minimally invasive gum treatments. The goal is to provide treatment that addresses gum disease while keeping patient comfort and preservation of healthy tissue in mind.
What Is Laser Gum Therapy?
Laser gum therapy uses focused laser energy during periodontal treatment.
Depending on the specific procedure and laser technology being used, the laser can help target diseased or inflamed tissue and bacteria around the teeth. It can also assist with removing infected tissue and calculus during periodontal treatment.
At Broadwing Dental Studio, advanced laser therapy is incorporated into a carefully planned periodontal treatment approach designed to control infection and support healing. Our team designs broader periodontal care plans based on the patient's gum health, the severity of disease, and individual treatment needs.
What Is LANAP®?
LANAP® stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. It's a minimally invasive periodontal procedure that uses a specialized dental laser as part of the treatment of gum disease.
Unlike traditional periodontal surgery, which may involve making larger incisions and repositioning gum tissue to access the infected areas, LANAP® uses laser technology to selectively target diseased tissue around the teeth.
The treatment is designed to:
- Target diseased gum tissue
- Reduce harmful bacteria around the teeth
- Remove infection from periodontal pockets
- Preserve healthy tissue
- Encourage the body's natural healing response
- Support the reattachment of gum tissue to the tooth
- Address periodontal disease while minimizing surgical trauma
How Does LANAP® Laser Gum Therapy Work?
LANAP® treatment at Broadwing Dental Studio in New Rochelle involves several steps designed to address the infection below the gumline.
1. Your Gums Are Evaluated
Before treatment begins, your dentist needs to understand the condition of your gums.
A periodontal evaluation may include digital imaging, measuring the depth of the spaces between your gums and teeth, assessing bleeding and inflammation, evaluating gum recession, and reviewing the health of the supporting bone. This evaluation helps determine the extent of periodontal disease and whether laser therapy is an appropriate treatment option.
2. The Laser Targets Diseased Tissue
During LANAP®, the laser is used beneath the gumline to target diseased and inflamed tissue associated with periodontal infection.
The laser's ability to precisely target tissue allows the dentist to focus treatment on the areas affected by disease while aiming to preserve healthy gum tissue. This precision is one reason laser technology can be useful in minimally invasive periodontal treatment.
3. Bacteria and Diseased Tissue Are Addressed
Periodontal pockets can harbor bacteria, plaque, calculus, and diseased tissue beneath the gumline. The laser is used as part of the process of removing diseased tissue and reducing the bacterial burden in these areas.
This is important because periodontal disease cannot be effectively managed by simply treating the visible portion of the gums. The infection can extend below the gumline and affect the structures supporting the teeth.
4. The Tooth Roots Are Cleaned
The tooth roots also need to be thoroughly cleaned as part of periodontal treatment.
Removing bacterial deposits and calculus from the root surfaces helps create a healthier environment for the gums.
Laser treatment does not eliminate the need for appropriate mechanical removal of deposits. Rather, LANAP® is incorporated into periodontal treatment to address diseased tissue and support the overall cleaning and healing process.
5. The Gums Can Begin to Heal
After the infected tissue and bacterial deposits have been addressed, the gums can begin the healing process. LANAP® is designed to support the body's natural healing response and encourage new attachment of periodontal tissues to the tooth surface.
The ultimate goal of periodontal therapy is not simply to make the gums look healthier. It is to control disease and help preserve the teeth and the structures that support them.
How Is Laser Gum Therapy Different From Traditional Gum Surgery?
Traditional periodontal surgery may be necessary for some patients with advanced gum disease. Depending on the procedure, conventional surgery can involve incisions in the gums to provide access to the roots and underlying structures.
Laser periodontal therapy offers a different approach.
Because LANAP® uses laser energy to selectively target diseased tissue, treatment can be performed with less cutting of healthy gum tissue than some traditional surgical approaches. Advantages of laser gum therapy often include:
- More precise treatment
- Less disruption of healthy tissue
- Reduced bleeding during treatment
- A minimally invasive approach
- Potentially less postoperative discomfort
- A recovery process that may be easier for some patients
However, laser treatment is not automatically the right solution for every periodontal case. The severity of gum disease, bone loss, pocket depth, tooth anatomy, and other factors all influence the appropriate treatment.
Does Laser Gum Therapy Hurt?
One of the reasons patients may be interested in LANAP® is its minimally invasive nature.
During periodontal treatment, local anesthesia is generally used to keep the treatment area comfortable. Because laser therapy can reduce the amount of cutting and tissue disruption involved in some periodontal procedures, some patients may experience less postoperative discomfort than they would with more invasive surgery.
Your dentist will discuss what you can expect during and after treatment and can also discuss sedation or other comfort measures when appropriate. At Broadwing Dental Studio, patient comfort is a priority, and our New Rochelle dental practice offers sedation options for patients experiencing dental anxiety or who would feel more comfortable with additional support during treatment.
What Are the Benefits of LANAP®?
Laser gum therapy may offer several potential benefits for appropriate candidates.
Precise Treatment
Dental lasers allow the dentist to focus treatment on specific areas affected by periodontal disease.
Preservation of Healthy Tissue
LANAP® is designed to selectively target diseased tissue while preserving healthy gum structures whenever possible.
Minimally Invasive Approach
Compared with some traditional periodontal surgical procedures, laser treatment can involve less cutting and tissue disruption.
Support for Gum Reattachment
LANAP® is designed to encourage the body's natural healing response and support new attachment of periodontal tissues to the tooth.
Less Bleeding
Laser energy can help control bleeding during treatment, which can provide a clearer treatment field and may contribute to a more comfortable procedure.
Potentially Easier Recovery
Because the procedure can be less invasive than some traditional periodontal surgeries, patients may experience a more manageable recovery. Individual recovery experiences vary based on the extent of treatment and the patient's overall health.
Can Laser Gum Therapy Reverse Gum Disease?
Laser treatment can be an effective component of periodontal therapy for appropriately selected patients, but it is important to understand what treatment can and cannot accomplish.
Early gum disease, or gingivitis, can often be improved with professional cleaning and improved home care.
Periodontitis is different. Once periodontal disease has caused damage to the supporting bone and tissues around the teeth, treatment focuses on controlling the infection, stopping or slowing further progression, and maintaining the health of the remaining supporting structures.
LANAP® may be part of that treatment plan, and ongoing periodontal maintenance and good home care will remain essential.
Who is a Candidate for LANAP®?
LANAP® can be considered for patients with periodontal disease who require treatment below the gumline. However, candidacy cannot be determined based on symptoms alone.
Your periodontal team at Broadwing Dental Studio may consider:
- The severity of your gum disease
- Periodontal pocket depths
- The amount of bone loss
- Gum inflammation and bleeding
- Tooth mobility
- Your overall oral health
- Your medical history
- Previous periodontal treatment
- Your response to nonsurgical therapy
Some patients may benefit from scaling and root planing alone, while others may require additional periodontal treatment. A comprehensive evaluation with our New Rochelle dental team is the best way to determine which approach makes sense for your smile.
What Happens After Laser Gum Therapy?
Periodontal treatment doesn't end when you leave the dental office. Your gums need time to heal, and your dentist will provide instructions for caring for your mouth during recovery.
You may be advised to:
- Follow a temporary diet or avoid certain foods
- Take medications as prescribed
- Maintain gentle but thorough oral hygiene
- Avoid tobacco products
- Attend follow-up appointments
- Return for periodontal maintenance at recommended intervals
Your dentist will monitor your gum health over time to determine whether the treatment is achieving the desired results.
Why Is Periodontal Maintenance So Important?
Even successful periodontal treatment doesn't mean you can stop paying attention to your gums.
Periodontal disease is a chronic condition that requires ongoing management. Plaque and bacteria continue to develop naturally in the mouth, so maintaining healthy gums requires consistent home care and professional monitoring.
Depending on your periodontal history, your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings and examinations than someone without a history of gum disease.
At Broadwing Dental Studio, personalized periodontal maintenance is an important part of the practice's approach. Ongoing care is designed to help stabilize gum health, monitor changes, and reduce the likelihood of periodontal disease becoming active again.
Can Laser Gum Therapy Help With Gum Recession?
LANAP® and treatment for gum recession are not the same procedure. Broadwing Dental Studio also offers the Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Technique, an incision-free approach specifically designed to address certain cases of gum recession.
Pinhole gum treatment gently repositions existing gum tissue through a small entry point rather than using traditional grafting techniques.
The appropriate treatment depends on the cause and severity of gum recession, so an evaluation is necessary before determining which procedure is appropriate.
How Can I Prevent Gum Disease After Treatment?
Professional periodontal treatment is only one part of maintaining healthy gums. Here's how you can help protect your results:
Brush Twice a Day
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque from your teeth and along the gumline.
Clean Between Your Teeth
Floss or use another interdental cleaning method recommended by your dental team to remove plaque from areas a toothbrush cannot reach.
Avoid Tobacco
Smoking and tobacco use can increase the risk of gum disease and interfere with healing.
Manage Other Health Conditions
Certain systemic conditions, including diabetes, can affect periodontal health. Work with your healthcare providers to keep chronic conditions well managed.
Keep Your Periodontal Maintenance Appointments
Professional cleanings and regular periodontal evaluations allow your dental team to monitor your gums and address new concerns before they progress.
Don't Ignore the Signs of Gum Disease
Gum disease can develop quietly, but there are warning signs you shouldn't ignore.
Schedule a periodontal evaluation with our team at Broadwing Dental Studio if you notice:
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
- Red or swollen gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Gum recession
- Increasing tooth sensitivity near the gumline
- Changes in how your teeth fit together
- Loose or shifting teeth
The earlier periodontal disease is identified, the more opportunities your dental team may have to manage it before additional damage occurs.
Experience Technology-Driven Periodontal Care in New Rochelle
Laser gum therapy offers a modern approach to treating periodontal disease, and LANAP® is one of the advanced techniques that may be used to address infection below the gumline while preserving healthy tissue and supporting the body's natural healing process.
At Broadwing Dental Studio in New Rochelle, NY, periodontal care combines advanced technology with minimally invasive treatment and personalized planning. Our practice offers LANAP® laser therapy alongside scaling and root planing, antimicrobial therapy, periodontal maintenance, and other gum treatments.
If you're experiencing bleeding gums, persistent inflammation, gum recession, or other signs of periodontal disease, don't wait for the problem to become more serious. A periodontal evaluation can help determine what's happening beneath the gumline and whether laser gum therapy or another treatment is appropriate for your needs.
Healthy gums are an important part of protecting your teeth for the long term. With the right combination of professional treatment and ongoing maintenance, you can take an active role in maintaining your periodontal health.
