The state of your periodontal health can have significant consequences for your overall oral health. For example, periodontal disease not only affects your periodontal tissues (gums), but can also erode your jawbone structure and lead to tooth loss in its most severe forms. Fortunately, patients in Encinitas/San Diego have several options for addressing the condition and restoring their good periodontal health, including laser-assisted treatment (or LANAP) that involves the use of advanced technology to promote healthier gum tissues.

What does LANAP mean?

LANAP stands for laser-assisted new attachment protocol, and the main goals of the treatment are to eradicate harmful oral bacteria and allow diseased gum tissues to heal. The specially calibrated laser allows your periodontist to carefully and effectively eliminate the bacteria that lead to periodontal disease and inflammation while trimming away diseased tissue to allow the healthy part of your gums to reattach to your teeth roots. In many cases, laser-assisted treatment can offer a more comfortable and conservative alternative to traditional surgical methods.

The benefits of laser-assisted treatment

Because of the minimally invasive nature of LANAP treatment, the procedure can offer several immediate and long-term benefits. For example:

• Greater comfort – The use of a specially calibrated laser eliminates the need for a scalpel to treat your periodontal disease. This means the procedure causes less trauma to the tissues and the area around them, and most patients don’t require sutures afterward.
• More successful healing – The laser used during LANAP treatment emits heat that helps promote faster and more successful healing of your gum tissues. In addition to avoiding sutures, LANAP treatment also reduces the amount of time needed for your tissues to heal and the risk of infection during the process.
• Better long-term periodontal health – The precision and comfort provided by LANAP offers immediate benefits for patients who need periodontal treatment. However, it also offers significant benefits for long-term periodontal health, as well. Laser-assisted treatment allows you to retain a maximum amount of healthy gum tissues, which means a reduced risk of more extensive periodontal disease in the future.

Learn if LANAP can benefit you

With the help of advanced laser technology, your periodontal treatment can be performed with greater comfort and accuracy, resulting in improved long-term periodontal health. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.