Laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) is a nonsurgical alternative to periodontal surgery. It treats gum disease—an infection of the gums that’s usually caused by poor oral hygiene—using PerioLase, a YAG laser, to remove diseased tissue and kill bacteria while leaving healthy tissue intact.
The LANAP protocol is an FDA-cleared laser treatment that offers a less painful alternative to conventional surgery—and it’s often more successful. LANAP with laser-assisted regeneration (LAR) is the only scientifically proven methodology that results in true periodontal regeneration, the growth of new bone and gum tissue. They are performed with a special laser called a Nd:YAG, which has variable speeds and frequency of pulses for different types of tissue.
The success of LANAP in treating gum disease is due to its ability to target the source of the inflammation without hurting or removing healthy gum tissue. It can also slow or stop the gum tissue from detaching from the teeth and decrease the pocket depth between the gums and teeth, allowing the body to recover from infection without the need for additional surgery. A shallower pocket, as Miami Beach dentist Dr. Mauricio Tijerino explains, “leaves a healthy environment, which is maintainable by the patient.” “LANAP,” he explains, “cleans and disinfects the pockets, kills specifically pathologic bacteria, loosens tartar under the gum, targets the diseased gum tissue and leaves a fresh healthy gum to reattach to the tooth.”
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