Finally, A Periodontist Reveals What Laser Periodontal Therapy Does To Treat Damaged Gums

A laser can now be used to treat periodontal disease. This is great news because it is estimated that 75% of the population has some form of periodontal disease. The standard treatment for gum disease rendered by a periodontist typically involves cutting and stitching the gum tissue. With the introduction of a special laser called the Periolase, specially trained periodontists can treat gum infections with this device. The laser is able to accomplish specific goals during treatment which contributes to the reversal of damsge to the gum tissue.

Laser periodontal therapy or LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is used to reverse the damage of periodontal disease. Laser energy is used to provide the beneficial effect. A thin fiber is moved along and beneath the gumline in a very specific manner. An exact narrow wavelength of laser energy is used to repair unhealthy tissue. The power and intensity of the laser beam give the Periolase the ability to provide a positive effect to the tissue surrounding the tooth. The laser energy from the Periolase is known to:

* kill bacteria. Bacteria can be killed close to the tip and 2 to 7 mm beyond the tip. This means bacteria which cause gum disease are getting killed in hard to reach places
* selectively remove diseased tissue and keep healthy tissue intact
* modify the calculus or tartar attached to the root so it is easier to remove.
* alter pathologic or poisonous substances beneath the gumline and on the tooth.
* create a clot which will seal the gumline and promote an environment which enables the new growth of tissue.

Properly applied laser energy will allow the body to heal naturally so that the health of the gum improves and the teeth become more stable. As was mentioned previously, there is only one laser and one protocol which have received FDA clearance for the treatment of periodontal disease. Hence, the consumer should beware of claims made about the safety and effectiveness of any laser which is not FDA approved to treat periodontal disease. Not all lasers can treat periodontal disease with the same effectiveness. The only FDA cleared laser for laser periodontal therapy is the Periolase by Millenium Dental Technologies. The associated protocol is named the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure or LANAP. According to the FDA, LANAP can only be performed by the Periolase. Since 2002, over a thousand practitioners are successfully treating periodontal disease with the LANAP protocol.

The proven track record of this laser has no equal in the world of dental lasers to treat periodontal disease. Incidentally, several days of training is required before a doctor can use the laser to treat patients with periodontal disease. To Millenium's credit, dental care providers can only obtain the laser after extensive training by other doctors who facilitate live training with the correct use of the laser. LANAP can only be performed after a certification process which involves days of classroom learning and learning from other expert doctors on staff at "The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry."." A practitioner who uses the Periolase did not learn how to use the laser by reading the manual and taking instruction by the salesman.