This site will introduce you to LANAP™ (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure), an amazing breakthrough in periodontal treatments. If you have been told you need scalpel and suture gum surgery, there's a laser alternative you need to learn about.

If you're like 100 million other Americans, you could be one of 50% of Americans who have periodontal disease, the major cause of tooth loss in adults. Periodontal disease is initiated by bacterial plaque, an opaque film which eventually hardens, forming tartar or calculus.

Calculus deposits harbor bacteria, which infect the gums. In early stages, this is called Gingivitis, characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. Many people experience bad breath and an unpleasant taste in their mouths as well. Unchecked, Gingivitis progresses to Periodontitis, a much more serious form of the disease where periodontal pockets are formed, separating teeth from the gums and supporting bone structure. Without treatment, infection becomes severe and the pockets deepen, resulting in tooth loss.

The way to repair the damage is to get rid of the infection and close up the pockets. Until now, that meant surgery and sutures. But today, many dentists offer LANAP™ (LPT™), a patient-friendly, minimally-invasive procedure that’s a great improvement over standard gum surgery.

Dr. Heard will require a consultation to explain how the laser works and give you a demonstration. Next, the dentist will take X-rays to make a definitive diagnoses and determine the extent of the infection. When you return for your first LPT™ treatment, you'll receive a local anesthetic to eliminate any possible discomfort. A general anesthetic isn't necessary, because LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY™ is much less traumatic. A tiny laser fiber (about the thickness of three hairs) is inserted between the tooth and the gum, and the infection is cleared away. The procedure is fast: It takes just two 2-hour sessions. Dr. Heard will treat one half of your mouth at each session...and you'll probably feel good enough to go right back to work afterwards.

WHY IS LPT better for the treatment of gum disease?

• LPT™ is about as easy as erasing a blackboard — there’s no cutting and no suturing.
• There's much less discomfort with LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY™ than with standard surgery -- during and after the procedure.
• It takes two 2-hour visits to the dentist and two follow up visits.
• Dr. Heard will probably recommend a soft diet for a day or two, and common sense should prevail.
• Following traditional surgery, recovery can take between to 2-4 weeks during which patients can experience considerable pain and swelling, where they may be restricted to liquid or soft diets.
• There's less than 24 hour recovery period, so you won't lose time from work.
• LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY™ is safe for patients with health concerns such as diabetes, HIV, hemophilia, or those taking medications such as Plavix or aspirin.

What's different about Research Proven LANAP™?
LANAP™ uses a special kind of laser called the PerioLase-MVP-7™, invented by two dentists in Cerritos, California. Dr. Robert Gregg and Dr. Delwin McCarthy spent years developing a better way to treat gum disease. The laser fiber, which is only about as wide as three human hairs, is inserted between the gum tissue and your tooth, where it painlessly removes the noxious elements that cause gum disease.

How many treatments will I need?
LANAP™ doesn't take much time at all -- just two two-hour sessions.

What about recovery - will I be in pain or need to follow a special routine?
The sense of recovery is immediate, due to the laser’s ability to seal blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerve endings. Of course, your tissue needs time to recover, regenerate and heal over the course of time, but after LANAP™ sessions, you can drive your car, go back to work, or do anything else you like.

I can see how good LANAP™ is - but is it very expensive and will my insurance cover it?
The good news is, LANAP™ is about the same as conventional surgery. There is no special code for our therapy, so if your insurance company will reimburse for conventional surgery, they will reimburse for LANAP™.
 
For more information go to Millenniumdental.com.