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It’s a common excuse: I don’t floss because my gums always bleed when I do.
It’s just not a very good excuse. Bleeding gums are a sign that you need to floss. The same goes if you notice that your gums are puffy and tender to the touch.
That’s because these are hallmarks of gum disease, a chronic oral infection that’s been scientifically linked to more than a dozen systemic health problems, from diabetes to Alzheimer’s, heart disease to cancer.
As the infection deepens, the tissues that hold your teeth firmly in your jaw are gradually destroyed. The teeth loosen in their sockets. Eventually, some may be recommended for extraction in hopes of retaining as many of your other natural teeth as possible – if they don’t fall out on their own first.
Periodontal disease is the number one reason why an adult loses teeth. Through good diet and hygiene, it’s largely preventable. It’s also entirely treatable.
Treating Gum Disease with Biological Periodontal Therapy
During a dental exam, we don’t just look at your teeth. We examine the whole mouth, including the periodontal tissues that support your teeth. We measure the pockets around each tooth. We evaluate any bleeding and the stability/mobility of your teeth.
In a healthy mouth, pockets should be less than 3 millimeters deep. Anything deeper indicates disease. Pockets greater than 6 millimeters are a sign of periodontitis, the advanced form of gum disease, in which tissue damage occurs.
The goal of periodontal therapy is to get the infection under control so those tissues can heal. The usual way of doing that is with a procedure called scaling and root planing, or SRP for short. It’s what most folks simply call a “deep cleaning.”
For SRP, a hygienist uses a combination of hand tools and an ultrasonic scaler to remove plaque and tartar below the gumline. As a biological practice, we also use ozone liberally in these cleanings. Ozonated water is used in the ultrasonic, as well as for rinsing. Ozone gas or oil is applied to the gums, as well, for additional disinfection and healing support.
For patients with active gum disease, deep cleanings are typically advised every 3 to 4 months until the gums return to health. Combine that with improved hygiene and nutrition at home, and the outcomes can be terrific.
But what if you have periodontitis?
Regenerative Periodontal Therapy with LANAP
As powerful as SRP, ozone, and nutrition can be in taming gum disease, there’s one thing they can’t do: restore bone lost to the disease. What can restore it is a regenerative procedure called laser assisted new attachment procedure, or LANAP.
LANAP is an FDA-approved therapy that’s been shown to actually regrow the supporting bone and connective tissue that anchors the teeth.
LANAP is performed with a special Nd:YAG laser that selectively targets and removes diseased gum tissue while leaving healthy tissue intact. It also activates proteins that promote the regeneration of healthy tissue, including new periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone cells. The laser is also used to sterilize the area and form a blood clot that seals the gum pocket, facilitating healing below.
Only local anesthetic is needed. There’s no cutting or stitching. The procedure is minimally invasive, so there’s little to no discomfort for you plus a much quicker recovery time compared to conventional gum surgery.
Research has consistently shown LANAP to be effective on its own or in conjunction with SRP. One 2023 study, for instance, found that outcomes were better for patients who had both LANAP than for those who had SRP alone. Laser treatment was associated with
- Greater reduction in pocket depth.
- Significantly lower levels of P. gingivalis, one of the main pathogens involved in gum disease.
- Improved clinical outcomes, such as less bleeding upon probing.
“The use of Nd:YAG lasers in LANAP therapy,” the study authors concluded, “is a safe and effective procedure that is well accepted by patients.”
Other research has shown that tooth retention over the long term with LANAP is “favorable.” The beauty of LANAP is in the great results it gets by harnessing the body’s own remarkable capacity for regeneration. By precisely targeting and removing diseased gum tissue, this innovative procedure stimulates the natural healing response, triggering regrowth. It’s a true regenerative approach that encourages your smile to heal itself from the inside out.
