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Gum disease is a progressive disease. Over time, the infection destroys the tissues that hold your teeth in place, making tooth loss a real possibility – and making LANAP treatment all the more valuable. That’s because, unlike conventional periodontal therapies, LANAP is actually regenerative.
“LANAP” stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure and is a minimally invasive option for treating advanced gum disease. Unlike conventional periodontal surgery, there’s no cutting or suturing involved. Instead, our dentists use a special laser that selectively targets diseased soft tissues while preserving healthy tissue.
More, it stimulates the growth of new tissues, including periodontal ligament fibers, cementum (the outer surface of the tooth root), and even bone. The latter was highlighted in a recent study in Lasers in Medical Science, which involved 68 adults with gum disease. Each was randomly assigned to get one of three treatments: a standard “deep cleaning,” a cleaning with laser treatment, or a cleaning plus LANAP. The health of each patient’s gums was assessed before treatment and again at one and three months afterwards.
The research team found that while both laser procedures reduced pocket depth and improved attachment more than deep cleaning alone, LANAP was unique in that significant bone growth was visible on x-rays after treatment.
And teeth need bone for stability.
What to Expect After LANAP
Most patients are thrilled to find that healing and recovery after LANAP tends to be much easier and more comfortable than with standard gum surgery.
For the first day or two, you may have some swelling around the treated areas or some tenderness when chewing. You may also notice that your gums change color a bit as they heal.
Most patients can get back to normal activities after those first couple days. Any lingering tenderness or sensitivity should fade over the next week to 10 days. The color of your gums should return to normal, and you may even start to sense them feeling a bit tighter around your teeth.
Inflammation will continue to decrease over the next two to four weeks. Your gums become noticeably tighter and your periodontal pockets grow shallower. During this stage of healing, the early stages of bone regeneration begin. Progress can start to feel really real as your body continues to heal itself with the optimal conditions created by LANAP.
Holistic Recovery Tips for LANAP Patients
Before your procedure, we’ll give you complete instructions for your home care to support good healing. For best results, you should follow those to a T. Still, there are some general guidelines we can offer here to give you an idea of what to expect:
- Prioritize rest and stress reduction. Get plenty of sleep. Allow your body time to heal. Stress management techniques such as meditation and gentle yoga can be helpful while also supporting immune function and healing.
- Drink plenty of water. This helps support tissue repair and detox. Don’t use straws, though. The suction can disturb the healing areas.
- Follow gentle oral hygiene. You may be instructed to avoid brushing and flossing for a while after your treatment to let the soft tissues heal. For the same reason, avoid vigorous swishing of any liquid. Once you’re cleared to resume brushing, use an extra soft brush and a non-abrasive toothpaste.
- Be mindful of movement. Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for the first few days after treatment. Light movement such as gentle walks or yoga are fine.
- Eat right. In this case, that means starting with softer foods for a few days and then gradually shifting back to firmer foods that require more chewing. Avoid hot, spicy, crunchy, or seeded foods, as well as alcohol, for the first couple weeks of healing. Aim for nutrient-dense meals made from real food, especially anti-inflammatory foods.
- Use targeted supplements. While food is your best source of nutrition, supplements can be helpful in supporting healing, especially those that support tissue repair suchas vitamins, C, E, and B complex, zinc, iron, and magnesium.
- Keep all your follow-up visits. This lets us monitor healing and gives us a chance to adjust your specific care plan and address any bite imbalances or other issues that may arise as your tissues regenerate.
- Listen to your body. If you feel unusually tired or sore, if you notice changes in your bite or spaces between teeth, let us know at your next visit. They may be normal signs of healing or emerging issues that need attention. If you develop excessive bleeding or a fever or unusual swelling or other complication, contact us immediately.
And remember: Your mouth is the gateway to your body. The health of your gums impacts your entire system. By choosing LANAP and supporting your recovery holistically, you’re taking a significant step toward improving your oral and whole body health alike.
