LANAP laser treatment is a powerful yet non-invasive way to treat periodontal disease. In contrast, the traditional alternative to LANAP combines procedures like gum flap surgery and SCP (scaling and root planning).
The dissimilarity between these two approaches is huge: Traditional treatment involves making incisions to gums, peeling them back, removing infected tissue and suturing the gum shut. None of that happens with LANAP laser treatment. A dentist does not have to make a single cut or stitch to the patient’s mouth.
This means that a person that gets LANAP laser treatment will recover faster than a person who receives traditional treatment, right? To answer this question, we need to learn the basics of both types of treatment.
Moderate or advanced periodontal disease is an infection that attacks the teeth and the tissues that support them. That includes the gums, the connective tissues and in severe cases, the jawbone. Which means that a large part of treating periodontal disease involves removing the infection.
With traditional treatment, a periodontist would have to peel the gums back in order to access the roots of the teeth and sometimes, the jawbone. This treatment is considered minor oral surgery. And then someone invented LANAP laser treatment.
LANAP treatment is a different and arguably better approach to removing gum infections. A periodontist will use a specialized laser to remove infected tissue. This laser operates at a wavelength that targets diseased tissue while leaving healthy tissue unscathed.
The part of the laser that does the actual disinfecting is nearly invisible, with a thickness of only three human hairs. The procedure goes like this:
A person may feel a bit sore after the process, but they will go home with little pain and minimal bleeding. With the proper aftercare, the person should have full use of their teeth in as little as ten days.
There are different stages of recovery for laser treatment. The first stage lasts three days. During this time, the person is limited to a liquid diet. This is to avoid dislodging the clots at the base of the tooth. Also, the patient should avoid brushing the affected area. They should also be very gentle with the rest of their teeth.
On the fourth day, the person can graduate to soft foods. They should remain on this diet until the seventh day. They should still avoid brushing the affected area.
Once the eighth day comes around, the person can graduate to soft solids. But, only if the white ‘stuff’ that the dentist applied to the base of the affected teeth has worn off.
After ten days, the patient can start brushing the affected teeth and resume a relatively normal diet. Still, a person should stick to foods that will be gentle to their teeth and gums for a month, at least.
Patients should note that as the gums, teeth and jaw heals and regenerates, they will experience some discomfort and tooth sensitivity. Patients should visit their periodontist regularly, just to make sure that everything is healing as expected.
When you visit our practice, our experienced periodontist will walk you through every step of LANAP treatment. They will show you how to care for your mouth after the procedure and tell you what to expect during your recovery.
Request an appointment here: https://www.appdentalalcoa.com or call Appalachian Dental at (865) 379-7555 for an appointment in our Alcoa office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: LANAP in Alcoa, TN.
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