Do Gums Grow Back After LANAP?
If you have noticed issues such as swollen gums, chronic bad breath, recessed gums, or gums that bleed after brushing your teeth, these may all indicate that you have developed gum disease. If you are diagnosed with gum disease, your periodontist will discuss what treatment options are available to you.
Gum line recession is typically between 2-4mm, but in cases of severe gum disease, this recession may be up to 15mm. When gum recession is this severe, you may begin to experience discomfort while drinking or eating, especially while eating or drinking foods or beverages that are hot or cold. Because gum disease will not correct itself naturally, it is important to treat the issue as soon as possible.
To learn more about treatments for gum disease, please refer to the following.
Treatment Options for Gum Disease
The most common methods for treating gum disease are:
- Deep Cleaning/Scale and Root Planing: The most common approach for treating gum disease is a scale and root planing procedure. This process involves removing plaque and tartar that have accumulated below the gumline using manual scrapers and/or ultrasonic instruments. Once the plaque is removed, the rough areas of the tooth’s root are smoothed out or planed to allow the gums time to heal and inhibit the accumulation of additional bacteria.
- Flap Surgery: Patients who have developed severe gum disease may require flap surgery (also known as osseous surgery). This procedure corrects gum disease by making an incision in the gums and pulling them back in order to access and remove the bacteria that has developed and then reshape the bone. Once this is complete, the gums are stitched back up. Because this procedure is more invasive and requires a longer healing process, it is avoided if possible.
- LANAP: If patients are a good candidate, LANAP is recommended, largely because it can provide similar results to the previously mentioned treatments but in a far less invasive manner. Instead of physically removing the bacteria, LANAP corrects gum disease by targeting the damaged tissue, leaving the healthy gum and bone unimpacted. Once this process is complete, the gums are able to grow back to their original position, though a gum graft or Pinhole Surgical Technique may also need to be performed. Once these targeted areas have been destroyed, your periodontist will use handheld and ultrasonic tools to clean your teeth, after which the healing process can begin.
Will LANAP Regenerate My Gums?
One of the unique characteristics of the LANAP technique is that while it is being performed, it will activate proteins (called “growth factors” due to the fact that they stimulate and promote the regeneration of tissue and bone cells).
Additional benefits of LANAP include:
- Less painful than other treatments for gum disease
- Will result in less post-procedural sensitivity, swelling, and bleeding
- No contraindications
- Halts the progression of gum recession
- Faster healing process
- Procedural experience is more comfortable
- Corrects gum disease quickly