How Long Does the LANAP Procedure Take?

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how long does the lanap procedure take

When you visit the dentist for your regular checkup, depending on your situation, they may find gum disease during your evaluation.

Early gum disease is treated by a periodontist in Los Angeles using a variety of methods, such as deep cleanings, topical medicines, and prescription mouthwashes. Gum disease worsens to the point that surgery is required if left unattended.

The LANAP method can take the place of conventional laser gum surgery techniques; talk to your dentist to see if this is the right choice for you.

What is the LANAP treatment?

Dentists make extensive cuts into a patient’s gum tissue during flap surgery; in comparison, LANAP involves no such cutting or sewing. Instead, this method uses a PerioLase MVP-7 laser to eliminate gum pockets and target the infection and dangerous microorganisms. Laser surgery is commonly preferred by patients because it causes less discomfort, less pain, and less swelling. Additionally, since the laser encourages the regeneration of gum tissues, individuals who use LANAP may avoid a bone graft procedure. Patients can anticipate relying on local anesthetic on the day of treatment and leaving with some discomfort and mild pain.

The majority of dentists also advise using a mouthrinse rather than brushing for two to four weeks after the procedure and a soft diet for roughly a week after that.

How is the LANAP treatment different from the gum disease procedure?

Traditional flap surgery has a longer recovery period than laser-based surgery since it is more intrusive and uncomfortable. Although the risk of infection is modest and can be reduced by carefully following your dentist’s aftercare advice, it is higher because it is more intrusive. Flap surgery has the benefit of being effective for treating both mild and severe forms of periodontitis. On the other hand, some really severe cases of periodontitis do not require  LANAP in Los Angeles surgery.

LANAP employs lasers instead of scalpels to more delicately remove damaged gum tissue and dangerous bacteria than conventional flap surgery. A periodontist near you can accurately remove just diseased tissue using lasers without removing or adversely impacting good gum tissue nearby. Without the use of surgical glue or stitches, soft tissue lasers can remove diseased tissue, clear pockets, compress healthy gum tissue against the surface of your teeth’s roots, and seal the treated pocket with a clot.

LANAP surgery is far less intrusive and cleaner than conventional flap surgery because it is performed without incisions. Patients have a considerably lower chance of infection, far less sensitivity, and less bleeding. 

How long does the LANAP process take?

Most frequently, two sessions of two to three hours each are needed for dentists to complete the LANAP near you. One half of the mouth is addressed during each individual session. Two follow-up appointments are usually required for patients to make sure the gums are healing properly. Patients can generally return to their regular duties the same day as the treatment because the recovery time is frequently less than 24 hours.

Overall, the laser process might take as long as traditional surgery, which typically involves numerous sessions and office visits. Additionally, the recovery time following standard surgery can range from two to four weeks. Although it can take six to eight weeks for your body to fully heal, you could make good progress in that time. Following your therapy, your bite may change gradually over several months.

Consult with Our Dentist!

If you have gum disease that is unbearable, your dentist might suggest extensive cleaning or surgery. Consult your dentist at Nima Ebrahimi DDS about the LANAP technique if you wish to avoid invasive laser gum surgery. To learn more about gum disease therapy, schedule a consultation with our dental staff today.