Gum surgery without cutting or stitches?
For those who have significant gum disease and have been told that they need traditional gum surgery, laser gum treatments may be an alternative. Research has shown that this “No Cut – No Sew” alternative called LANAP® (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is the only laser gum treatment with the ability to regenerate the lost bone and soft tissue attachment that causes the deep pockets associated with gum disease. Because of this, LANAP® is also the only FDA approved laser procedure for treating gum disease.
Traditional gum surgery generally tends to be amputative by design. A scalpel is used to cut away infected gum tissue by trimming and repositioning it around the teeth while the affected bone is cut away. You come away from the procedure with the gums sewn back together. The end result is teeth surrounded by shallow gum pockets that are free from gum disease. But this is done at the expense of less gum tissue and bone support surrounding the teeth that not only creates spaces between teeth that can trap food, but can be an esthetic problem if these spaces and now exposed tooth roots can be seen. Exposed tooth roots can also be prone to root sensitivity, root abrasions and erosions, and root decay.
But every treatment option has its limits. Whether you are a candidate for this procedure and what is your particular expected outcome is important in determining whether LANAP® is right for you. Since 2007, Dr. Leo Arellano has been one of the first dentists in the San Francisco Bay Area that has been fully trained and certified in this new procedure.
Call today to take advantage of his experience with this new standard of care procedure for periodontal disease.
