Q: Does LANAP require a course of antibiotics?

A: We use antibiotics for 7-14 days depending on the patient and sequence of treatment per protocol.

Q: Do only people who don’t brush and floss get the symptoms of gum disease?

A: Gum disease can be present in many different clinical situations. There are genetic factors in addition to local factors such as the bite and iatrogenic dentistry that can also contribute to the disease. Seeing a LANAP trained Periodontist is a good preventative measure.

Q: I am 25 years young and my mouth is showing signs of gum disease. Aren’t I too young?

A: You should be examined by a qualified LANAP periodontist. The doctor will determine if a laser approach would be beneficial for your health. However, you might be able to control the disease if it’s early enough without any major intervention.

Q: How to get rid of gum disease?

A: Find a qualified, experienced laser periodontist for an evaluation. If you qualify for LANAP, then it would be an easier and more effective way to get the gum disease under control.

Q: How does one deal with periodontic disease and bone loss?

A: We utilize laser treatment to treat periodontal disease whenever possible. It is less invasive and doesn’t require flaps. We have been performing the FDA-cleared LANAP protocol for over 7 years with great success. All of this can be determined after a thorough consultation and diagnosis with a quality set of digital x rays.

Q: How does laser therapy help with dental problems?

A: If a patient has gum disease, then they might be a candidate for laser gum surgery, also known as LANAP. This laser therapy has regenerative qualities to enhance bone regeneration and stabilize the disease process with quick healing and is a less invasive approach to treating the disease.

Q: What’s it like to be a periodontist?

A: It has been a very exciting time for our practice, since an FDA cleared Laser Protocol was instituted over seven years ago. The patient experience is positive and with little or no discomfort. In a majority of cases, we are able to avoid traditional surgery. We are treating more patients than ever who would normally have avoided treatment rather than having to go through the older methods of treating periodontal disease.

Q: What are recent accomplishments in periodontics?

A: We perform Laser Periodontal therapy, which has replaced more than 80% of our traditional surgeries. This is a major accomplishment.

Q: How do I find a periodontist that offers LANAP-Periolase treatment for gum disease in the Philippines/Asia?

A: Contact Millennium Dental Technologies in Cerritos, California. They should be able to help you. Good Luck!

Q: Yesterday, I went for my first periodontal planing and scaling (3 and 1/2 months after LANAP) session. I was shocked to hear from the periodontist that my back right molar still had a deep pocket depth on the buccal side. It was a 7-8 mm just before LANAP. Anyway, the hygienist said that a water irrigator would help. I said that I hope that it did not delay or stop the gingival reattachment process since the water force may further separate my gum from the tooth root. Then, the pocket will still remain. She did not think so. Is her suggestion for an irrigator credible? The Periodontist was too busy for me to ask.

A: In our specialty practice of Laser Periodontal Surgery, which includes LANAP, we sometimes see areas that have not responded as anticipated. If I understand you correctly, you have an isolated area of 7-8mm pocketing that has not changed since the procedure was performed. I would suggest speaking to the treating periodontist and discussing what the prognosis was pre-operatively and what can be done to enhance the results. In some instances, we do an isolated re-treatment of the area. There are many factors involved and it would be important that the periodontist speak with you when he is not so busy. The irrigator is helpful if there is plaque and if used correctly should not affect the LANAP process of healing. I am more concerned about the pocket and also the fact that we don’t probe LANAP cases until one year post LANAP surgery.

Q:

1. Yes, it is an isolated area.
2. In regard to not probing for one year—I feel that a planing and scaling at 3 months is, in effect, probing. The hygienist will never be so exact as to not detach new gingival re-attachment. Maybe, instead of a perio cleaning, there should be a regular cleaning only at and not under the gumline at 3months or even 6 months?
3. By the way, would you charge for a one tooth LANAP re-treatment? Thank-you for spending your time on this matter.

A: I would feel more comfortable if you spoke to your treating Periodontist and ask what he/she feels should or should not be done. However, please feel free to keep me informed of your progress.

Q: Periodontal disease has loosened three of my lower front teeth. My dentist wants to do gum surgery in an effort to save them. I had laser surgery two years ago. My concern is that the surgery may fail and I will still have to do implants. I am afraid that there may not be enough bone left for the implants to be successful. My dentist had said there is a 50% chance the gum surgery will fail but is anxious to save my natural teeth if possible.

A: My specialty area as a Periodontist is in Laser Gum Surgery, so I can tell you we have many cases where we have splinted the lower front teeth, done LANAP, adjusted the occlusion, and placed the patient in a night guard appliance. However, there are a number of factors in the decision. Sometimes, it might be better to extract the lower front teeth. You would have to be seen clinically to determine the best course of treatment for your situation.

Q: My new dentist tells me I need work under my gums and is trying to convince me to have laser (LANAP) treatment. Is this treatment worth the cost of close to $5000?

A: I am a Periodontist who does LANAP all the time. If you have an accurate diagnosis and are a candidate for the LANAP procedure, then it could very well be the correct treatment. You should have a full mouth series of x-rays and a complete periodontal charting to confirm the treatment plan. Are you seeing a Periodontist?

Q: Can I have a deep cleaning and regenerative surgery at the same time?

A: What specific treatment plan were you given? What case type are you?  Please provide the type of regenerative procedure suggested.  Conventional?  Laser? It is very difficult to answer your question without this information.

Q: I am a 72 year old male. I have several gum pockets at 5mm and others 4+. My dentist suggests deep root planing and cleaning. I’m OK with this. I had deep cleaning about 5 and 2 years ago, with maintenance cleanings 2-3 times a year. I’m bad about flossing. Three additional treatments have been recommended after deep cleaning:

1. irrigation at $75/quadrant
2. laser at $50/quadrant
3. arestin implants 6@$45 each.

I’m ok with this, but are any of these really necessary? If so, which, and in what priority?

A: I would go to a Laser trained Periodontist who does LANAP and get an evaluation. They should be able to diagnose you and give you a treatment plan that makes sense.

Q: I was told that having deep cleaning done with a laser will help regenerate soft tissue or bone growth. Is this true?

A: I am not sure what you understand “deep cleaning with a laser” to mean. If you are referring to LANAP, approved by the FDA if performed by a qualified Periodontist, the answer would be yes. The Periodontist should be able to verify that he or she is licensed to perform LANAP, having undergone a year of specialized training. If this is not what you are considering, I would get a second opinion before you consent to any laser periodontal treatment. Your periodontist should give you a comprehensive informed consent so you understand completely what procedure you are having done. Unfortunately, a lot of misleading claims confuse some patients.

Q: Yesterday I had two quadrants (osseous surgery) done using the LANAP procedure. How long should I wait before having the other side done?

A: In our office, we generally do full mouth LANAP cases in one visit.  A small number of our patients have half mouth done no more than 7-10 days apart. Did you have a qualified laser periodontist perform your LANAP surgery?  I suggest you speak to the treating doctor to get the information you need to understand how the LANAP protocol should be performed.  A full description of LANAP is always discussed at our consultation visits and is part of the informed consent process for our patients.

Q: When is it too late to do the procedure?

A: Which procedure are you referring to? If you mean laser surgery or any other gum treatment, then you need to have a periodontal exam and a full set of quality digital x-rays for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Then we can determine what teeth can be saved and treated.