Surgical Periodontal Procedures

LANAP Laser Therapy

The LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is used by Dr. Gouldin to treat periodontal disease and has been shown to allow significant improvements in health of many teeth that were previously considered poor in prognosis. The procedure involves the use of a digital dental laser--the PerioLase® MVP-7 , which was specifically designed for treating periodontal disease. The PerioLase® laser is used as part of Laser Periodontal Therapy™, to remove harmful bacteria and diseased tissue from the gum pocket by passing a laser light between gum and tooth. Patients don’t hear or feel it – except for a little warmth. The procedure’s method of eliminating germs from the gums is very similar to lifting ink from paper. First, Dr. Gouldin uses the laser which produces heat to strip away the diseased gum. The laser only seeks out infected tissue, which is darker in color than healthy tissue, leaving healthy tissue in place. Then, following a thorough scaling and root planing, Dr. Gouldin uses the laser a second time to heat the area until a clot is formed, protecting the newly-lasered tissue by sealing it. This allows the body to heal naturally so that the gum pockets improve and the teeth become more stable. Most patients experience little to no discomfort after this procedure.