Menu

Laser (LANAP)




The LANAP protocol is a laser-based approach to gum disease using an Nd:YAG free running pulsed laser, requiring specific knowledge and skills drawn from the whole of dentistry.

We use the LANAP protocol to treat gum disease to: remove only the diseased tissue; without impacting any of the healthy tissue. This allows us to maintain the height of the tissue around teeth, minimizing pain and discomfort to the patient, and get a closure of the periodontal pocket wound and allow healing to take place.

Controlling periodontal disease makes it possible to save and restore otherwise hopeless teeth.

Before

No bone grafting, just the amazing results of LANAP laser surgery!




LANAP Laser FAQ's


NEW TECHNOLOGY – NEW COMFORT

What is Laser Periodontal Therapy™?

Laser Periodontal Therapy™ is a laser based technique for the treatment of periodontal disease using the Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc., PerioLaseÒ Laser. Fear of periodontal treatment vanishes when patients find out no scalpel or sutures will be used. Patient friendly laser treatment gets patients to agree to the treatment they need and continue with the follow-up care that is prescribed.

Our office is one of the first in the area to offer Laser Periodontal Therapy™ for the treatment of gingivitis and/or periodontitis. Following are commonly asked questions about this technology.

How does it work?

Tartar, associated with inflamed and bleeding gums, is removed form the root surface of the tooth using an ultrasonic scaler and small instruments.

Then, a small amount of light energy from a laser is directed through a tiny fiber, which is gently placed between the gum and tooth. This light energy removes a tiny amount of diseased tissue and aids in reducing the bacteria associated with the disease. After the area is thoroughly cleaned, the body can heal the area naturally.

Does it hurt?

Although the procedure itself can be virtually painless, we may anesthetize the area for the patient’s comfort. In this way we can precisely direct the laser for treatment. Post-procedure discomfort is typically minimal and of short duration.

How long does it take?

Initial treatment is focused on scaling and the use of small instruments to remove the tartar. Then, the laser portion of the treatment is performed and normally only takes a few minutes. Depending on the severity of the patient’s periodontal disease, treatment may be accomplished in one office visit or in multiple visits. The estimated treatment time is reviewed with patients when we discuss their treatment plan.

Does this treatment cost more than traditional gum surgery?

Typically we use the same billing codes as traditional gum surgery and the laser treatment is generally no more expensive than traditional surgery. There are other factors which may affect the cost, such as the severity of the periodontal disease, and how many teeth are involved. Many insurance plans pay only for a portion of this treatment. Patients should discuss their payment options with the dental office personnel as we offer financing for this treatment.

The dramatically increased comfort for our patients made the new system attractive to our office. We do encourage patients to take care of the need now to reduce further damage to their gums, teeth and bone.



LANAP After Care Instructions 

Patient instructions following Laser® Treatment

DO NOT BRUSH OR FLOSS FOR 1 MONTH FROM TREATMENT DATE

 

  • Do not be alarmed with any color changes or appearance of gum tissue following laser therapy. Gum tissue can turn white,  gray, yellow, red, blue, purple, and “stringy” and reflects a normal response to laser treatments.
  • Do not apply excessive tongue or cheek pressure to the treated area.
  • Do not be alarmed if one or all of the following occurs:
    • Light bleeding
    • Slight swelling
    • Some soreness, tenderness, or tooth sensitivity
    • Medicinal taste
  • Swelling may possibly occur. To keep this at a minimum, gently place an ice pack on the outside of the face for 20 minutes each hour until you retire for sleep that night. Do not continue using the ice bag beyond the day of the surgery.
  • Some oozing of blood may occur and will appear to be greatly exaggerated when it dissolves in saliva.
  • Please call the office at 1-951-683-3030 so that we may render further treatment if any of the following occurs:
    • Prolonged or severe pain
    • Prolonged or excessive bleeding
    • Considerably elevated or persistent temperature.
  • If medication has been prescribed, please take exactly as directed.  If you are not allergic to ibuprofen, we will prescribe it primarily to minimize tissue swelling and local inflammation that is a natural side effect of minor surgery. Ibuprofen is also good to reduce post-operative pain and sensitivity. Ibuprofen is non-narcotic and does not affect your ability to drive. Never place aspirin directly on the tissue of a painful area.
  • Reduce physical activity for several hours following the surgery to maximize healing.
  • Try to keep your mouth as clean as possible in order to help the healing process. Only brush and floss the untreated area of your mouth. Do not brush or floss the treated area for 1 month or as directed by Dr. Rice and her team.
  • Do not rinse, brush, or floss the day of treatment.  The very next day you may brush and floss the untreated area. For the treated area you may rinse gently (do not swish vigorously) with the rinse prescribed to you for 60-90 seconds 2x a day.
  • You may need to be on a liquid diet for 3 days, then a diet of mushy/soft foods for the rest of the month, it is very important to maintain your food and fluid intake. Try to eat soft but nutritious food such as eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, malts, ice cream, etc., until you can comfortably return to a normal diet. Please refer to the Post Laser® Treatment Diet Instructions below.
  • Avoid spicy or excessively hot foods during the initial 3 day liquid diet period.
  • When eating do not chew on the side of your mouth which has been treated.
  • Do not be alarmed that beginning with just 2 weeks after therapy and extending as long as 1 year or more, the teeth may become sore and tender as the bone and ligaments around the teeth regenerate and become more firm. This is a sign of healing, but also indicates the presence of a bite imbalance that may need to be adjusted. Please let Dr. Rice know at your post-operative visits.
  • “Spaces” between your teeth can result from reduction of inflammation, swelling, and the removal of diseased tissue after the Laser® treatment. These spaces usually fill in over time, and again, bite adjustment is critical to making sure the teeth and the “papilla” is not traumatized and can regrow.
  • After you complete the program follow up care and periodontal maintenance visits are extremely important to preserve the work that has been done.

 

Post Laser® Treatment Diet Instructions

  • If instructed for the 3-day liquid diet following Laser Therapy, follow only a liquid- like diet to allow healing. Anything that could be put into a blender to drink is ideal. The purpose of this is to protect the blood clot that is acting as a “band-aid” between the gums and the teeth. Do not drink through a straw, as this creates a vacuum in your mouth that can disturb the “band-aid”. Take daily vitamins.
  • After the instructed 3-day liquid diet, you can start the mushy/soft foods for the remainder of the month. (Recommendations listed below.)
  • If NOT instructed 3-day liquid diet, follow a strict mushy/soft diet for 1 month after your last treatment 
  • You will start to notice white material start to form around treated area. Do not be alarmed this means the tissue is starting to heal. It was explained to you that you must leave this material alone until it naturally heals and disappears. Once the white material has disappeared, then soft foods can be introduced. Soft foods have the consistency of pasta, fish, chicken or steamed vegetables. You may then, gradually add back your regular diet choices.
  • Please remember first month following treatment you should continue to make smart food choices. Softer foods are better.

 

*“Mushy” Diet Suggestions

DAILY VITAMINS!

  1. Anything put through a food blender
  2. Cream of wheat, Oatmeal, Malt O Meal
  3. Mashed Avocado, Applesauce
  4. Mashed Potatoes or Baked Potatoes – OK with butter/sour cream
  5. Mashed Banana or any mashed/blended fruit except berries with seeds
  6. Broth or Creamed Soup
  7. Mashed steamed vegetables
  8. Mashed Yams, Baked Sweet Potato or Butternut squash
  9. Cottage cheese Cream or Soft cheese
  10. Creamy peanut butter without solid pieces
  11. Eggs any style, with or without melted cheese
  12. Omelets can have cheese and avocado
  13. Jell-O, Pudding, Ice Cream, Yogurt
  14. Milk shake/smoothies – DO NOT blend with berries containing seeds (do not use a straw)
  15. Ensure, Slim Fast -nutritional drinks

 


DON’T

Chew gum, candy, cookies, chips, nuts, anything hard or crunchy, anything that has seeds or hard pieces, meat that shreds and can lodge under the gum and between teeth, raw vegetables/salad.

 

Post Laser OHI

Healing occurs at an individual’s own rate and is affected by outside influence such as mechanical or bacterial trauma.  For example, when you cut yourself and a scab forms, it will fall off as the tissue matures and becomes stronger and more resistant. How long does this process take for you, your father, your brother, your best friend and your son? It’s all different.

 

Please remember these are guidelines and Dr. Rice and her assistants will make further recommendations depending on how the tissue looks. 

Please do not do anything listed below unless Dr. Rice or her assistant informs you to do so. 

 

  • Manual brush in a Roll Technique only at 1 month (unless instructed otherwise)
  • Floss at 1 month (unless instructed otherwise & above gums only)
  • Electric toothbrush 3 months (no sub-gingival attachment(s))
  • Oral irrigators 6+ months (above gums only)
  • Keep patients on the prescription rinse the entire time you are not brushing (about 1 month) and switch to a non-staining antimicrobial rinse indefinitely as preventative OHI (such as NeutraSal)

 

If there is fibrin or red thrombus still present or if the tissue does not look right, DO NOT brush yet. The tissue needs to be mature and strong enough for flossing and electric toothbrush.

 

 

 

Smokers/Tobacco Users Warning

Tobacco has a very large effect on your gums and the disease you have in them. Tobacco is associated with an increased disease rate in terms of loss of the bone and gums that are holding your teeth in, as well as an increase in the space between the gums and teeth. Tobacco is a major factor for chronic gum disease.

Any type of smoking and/or chewing tobacco will have an adverse effect on the progress of your healing and may cause the gum disease to re-occur after treatment. If you are a smoker or chew tobacco we highly recommend not doing so while you are healing or any time after that.


Cosmetic Depigmentation

While the pigmentation of gum tissue can vary in a healthy mouth, some may prefer to reduce the pigmentation. Dr. Denine Rice can easily provide depigmentation using a laser. Here are the results after one session and two weeks post procedure.


Cosmetic Depigmentation

Cosmetic Depigmentation


Contact Us

Send Us A Message Today!

Our Location

Find us on the map

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

7:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

7:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

7:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed