What is Laser Gum Surgery (LANAP) in Lone Tree, CO?
Laser gum surgery is an innovative procedure used for dental procedures, like treating gum disease. It is also frequently used to contour the gums to address a gummy smile. Since there is no scalpel and no incisions, laser gum surgery eliminates the need for any sutures and dramatically reduces bleeding.
Periodontal Disease is the Primary Cause
Gum or periodontal disease is a progressive infection of your supporting tissues and bone that support your teeth. If identified in the earliest stage known as gingivitis, it can be both stopped and reversed with a good oral care routine. The advanced stage of periodontal disease will require professional intervention. The disease most often affects adults in their 30s and 40s. The risk factors causing periodontal disease include:
- Poor daily oral hygiene.
- Smoking and tobacco products.
- A chronic illness, like diabetes.
- Some certain medications.
- A genetic susceptibility.
Scaling and root planing is the traditional standard treatment for periodontal disease. This non-surgical deep cleaning removes the tartar, plaque, and damaging bacteria from your teeth below the gumline. It will also promote gum tissue regeneration once the source of the infection is removed.
Your dentist might suggest that a surgical approach is the best approach to treat your periodontal disease. This could be due to the severity of your gum infection. A common surgical treatment, known as gum flap surgery, includes a surgical cut in your gum tissue. It is then pulled back to allow deep cleaning. Your gum tissue is then sutured back into place.
Other surgical options for periodontal disease include soft tissue grafts, guided tissue regeneration, bone grafting, and the introduction of tissue-stimulating proteins.
How Laser Gum Surgery Works
Laser gum surgery is usually not a standalone treatment but in addition to other traditional methods. With laser gum surgery, your dentist uses a specific dental laser to remove the diseased gum tissue from around your teeth. Then they also remove the tartar and plaque built up around and below your gumline. They may use a different tool to smooth out rough spots on the teeth below the gumline. Removing these rough spots dramatically diminishes the risk of your teeth and gums, inviting more bacteria and any future infections.
After your laser gum surgery, your mouth will need a little time to heal and regenerate. Since your gums are now infection-free they will return to tightening back up around your teeth.
Not every dentist uses laser gum surgery. If your dentist has chosen to offer you this treatment, they have undergone extensive laser training to ensure they use proper techniques and how to use the different wavelengths correctly.
Risks and Benefits
There are benefits to using dental lasers for removing diseased gum tissue. The four most common benefits of using laser gum surgery are as follows:
- The recovery and healing times are shorter.
- You will not need any anesthetic, as is usually required for other forms of dental surgery.
- The dental laser can pinpoint the diseased areas precisely and accurately.
- There is far less bleeding, less pain, and swelling because laser gum surgery is much less invasive.