Is LANAP Treatment Painful?
The traditional method for treating advanced gum disease (osseous surgery) has involved using scalpels to remove diseased gum tissue and sutures to stich the area shut to allow the gums and bone to heal. While osseous surgery is very effective in treating advanced gum disease, it is an invasive procedure that causes patient discomfort both during and following the procedure. LANAP offers a much less painful alternative and involves removing this same bacteria with a laser and eliminates the need for scalpels and sutures. Regardless or what type of treatment you pursue, it is important to treat gum disease as quickly as possible to avoid developing more serious issues later on which may require more intensive and more painful procedures to correct.
If you have concerns about procedural discomfort, or if you have general anxiety about having the LANAP procedure performed (dental phobia), ask your clinic about what types of dental sedation options are available. This is especially important if you are avoiding having this procedure performed due to fear of discomfort or sitting still for an extended period of time. Most clinics provide oral sedation or Nitrous Oxide to help reduce patient anxiety, and some clinics also offer IV or IM sedation, however these types of sedation are typically reserved for longer, more invasive procedures.
Procedural Steps and Aftercare
If a LANAP procedure has been scheduled to correct your gum disease, a local anesthetic may be administered as well as dental sedation, though these are not always necessary. In fact, most patients who have LANAP performed do not experience any discomfort at all.
Before LANAP is performed, your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned. Following this, the laser light is placed between your gum and tooth. This light is calibrated to remove diseased tissue without impacting the surrounding healthy tissue. Once this process is complete, your periodontist will use ultrasonic scalers to remove tartar that has accumulated. Finally, the laser is used to make a seal to protect and disinfect the pocket by heating up the blood. During this process, stem cells are stimulated, which naturally results in the formation of more collagen, connective tissue, and bone.
After evaluating your mouth and making any final adjustments, your LANAP procedure will be complete. For most patients, there will be little or no discomfort following the LANAP procedure, and you should be able to return to all normal activities, unless dental sedation was provided, in which case you will need to wait for a period of time until the effects of the sedation to wear off.
While LANAP can be a highly effective treatment for halting the progression of periodontal disease, it will be necessary for you to follow good self-care following your procedure. Failing to do so will increase your risk of developing gum disease again, which can result in more serious issues developing, such as the loss of teeth. If you have additional questions about the LANAP procedure or concerns about any pain that may be involved, contact your periodontist who can answer your questions and discuss dental sedation options that may be available.