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The special type of laser used in LANAP is the ND: YAG, a crystal-based laser that can be used on both hard and soft tissues.  The specific wavelength of the laser allows it to remove diseased tissue and leave the healthy gum tissue.  The Periolase MVP-7 ND:YAG laser is the only laser that can be used when performing the LANAP protocol.  The LANAP protocol is the only laser patented protocol to treat periodontal disease.  Traditional periodontal therapy removes tissue height to reduce the pocket depths.  LANAP is a regenerative procedure, the patient does not lose tissue volume and bone is regenerated.  The best part of all is that LANAP is much easier on the patient during the procedure and the patient has less post operative discomfort. 

LANAP itself consists of four simple steps that are much less traumatic to the teeth and gumline than traditional dental surgery, and which help the mouth heal much more quickly. 

1.  A perio probe determines the degree of excessive pocket depth and thus helps the dentist better identify diseased tissue and areas of bacterial infection. 

2. The laser then removes this diseased tissue, while the heat of the laser kills the bacteria. 

3. The dentist removes tartar from the root surface using an ultrasonic scaler and special hand instruments

4. The laser is then used to clean the pocket one more time before sealing it closed against further infection. 

Because of its less invasive nature, there are a number of noticeable advantages and benefits that LANAP offers over traditional surgery.  For one thing, there is a much faster recovery time because most, if not all, damage to healthy tissue is proactively averted by through the use of more advanced, precision technology.  Because LANAP selectively removes diseases tissue, the height of the gums themselves around the teeth is much better preserved, and there is also much less post-operative stress to the mouth.  Any minor pain that a patient may feel is almost always manageable without a prescription, and can be treated with a variety of over the counter medications.  Obviously as well, the laser causes minimal bleeding compared to steel instruments and the heat it produces continuously sterilizes the periodontal pocket while it is busy cutting away necrotic and diseased tissue.  As a result, the patient feels almost no pain either during or after the procedure. 

For many people as well, the aversion to surgery is motivated by time constraints as much as it is motivated by an aversion to pain.  People with demanding jobs do not have hours and hours to spend in surgery, and have to schedule time off weeks, if not months, in advance.  This is why so many executives and business owners come to the Cosmetic Dentistry Center to have LANAP performed as an alternative to surgery.  Traditional dental surgery normally takes four 1-hour sessions with multiple visits for suture removal and checkups.  LANAP, on the other hand, takes only 2, 2-hour sessions and two follow-up visits.  This means more can be done with fewer days off, and typical recovery is almost always less than 24-hours, making an immediate return to work both possible and comfortable. 

After having LANAP performed, gum recession is minimal in comparison to that which typically follows normal dental surgery.  This, combined with new cementum and collagen formation on the roots, prevents subsequent tooth loss.