It is completely normal to be worried if you are diagnosed with periodontal or gum disease. Gum disease can be painful, and it can be aesthetically unpleasant as well.
However, luckily there is a quick and easy fix for gum disease, and it is known as laser-assisted new attachment procedure or LANAP. With the help of this treatment, you can get rid of your gum disease without having any interruptions to your daily routine.
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease, and it causes inflammation of the gums. The condition occurs due to a lack of oral hygiene, but it can also be caused by sleep apnea, smoking, medication, hormonal changes, or some illness.
However, lack of oral hygiene is usually the reason for gum disease. When you don’t brush your teeth and floss, plaque can build up on the teeth. The plaque can irritate the surrounding tissue and cause the gums to inflame. LANAP is arguably the best way to deal with this issue, so let’s talk about it.
Explain the LANAP Procedure Performed by Dentist
Traditional gum surgery is rarely used nowadays, as most gum diseases can be treated with laser periodontal therapy in Temecula. The dentist will use a laser to remove the diseased or infected tissue during the procedure.
This means that the dentist will not use any scalpels or knives to cut away the infected gum tissue, which can be painful. LANAP is far more invasive, and it offers faster recovery times.
When you reach the dentist for the appointment, the first thing they will do is take a closer look at the gums and determine the level of treatment required for each tooth. The dentist will then use the laser to remove the infection-causing bacteria, and the laser kills the bacteria with great efficiency.
Next, the periodontist will use an ultrasonic scaler to remove the disease-causing tartar. This tartar needs to be removed because it promotes bacteria growth, which causes almost all tooth and gum infections. The dentist will then use the laser once again, only this time to connect the gum tissue back to the root. In the end, the dentist will grind down the tooth surface to prevent the formation of tartar in the future.
The LANAP procedure can take around an hour to complete depending on the extent of the gum disease. The time taken to complete the procedure can vary from person to person, and it can even take up to two visits to finish the procedure.
After the dentist is done with the laser periodontal therapy, the patient can go home with relatively low pain. There is low discomfort and no sutures to worry about. Most patients recover within 24 hours.
You must take gum disease seriously. While you might think that gum disease only causes cosmetic issues, this is not true. If you ignore the problem for a long time, you can even end up losing a tooth.
Over time, your gums will start to hurt even more, and the longer you wait, the more complicated the issue will become. If you are experiencing discomfort in the gums, talk to your dentist right away.
Who Can Use LANAP?
One of the most important things you need to know about LANAP treatment is that not every dentist is qualified to perform it. Only a trained periodontist or dentist can use LANAP lasers on patients. Such dentists undergo a year-long training program to become well-versed in how to use LANAP on patients.
A common question people ask is whether they should go for LANAP or not. LANAP is a simple solution to restore your gums to their original healthy form. However, the treatment only works if your gum disease is not too far advanced. If your gum disease has passed a certain stage, you might have to look for other options.
There are almost no downsides to going for LANAP. The procedure is quick, and the recovery time is very short. If you are thinking about going for LANAP, you should talk to our dentist in Temecula.