LANAP®

Dr. Mitul Patel is the first and only dentist in Suwanee and Johns Creek to be fully trained and licensed to perform Laser Periodontal Therapy using LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure), an FDA cleared and patented laser procedure that greatly reduces the pain and recovery time associated with traditional gum surgery used for treating gum disease.

Have you been told that you have gum disease? Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection that destroys the gums and supporting bone surrounding your teeth. Three out of four adults 35 years and older may be affected, and according to the ADA (American Dental Association), more than 60% of the adult population has periodontal disease. Bleeding gums, tooth movement, loose teeth, bad breath, or pain associated with brushing, are all symptoms of periodontal disease. There is mounting evidence regarding the direct link between periodontal disease and a variety of other, possibly life-threatening diseases. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, miscarriages, and low birth weight.

The new standard of care for periodontal disease is Laser Periodontal Therapy™. If you have been told that you need gum surgery or you have periodontal disease, this new technology replaces cutting of the gum tissue with a scalpel and does not require stitches. This means an easy recovery with minimal bleeding, which preserves gum tissue, reduces root exposure and sensitivity, and is reasonably priced as compared to traditional gum surgery.

HOW WOULD I KNOW IF I WOULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR LANAP??
ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
 

• Do your gums bleed when you brush, floss, or eat?

• Do you have a heavy build up of tartar on your teeth?
   

• Have you been told that you have periodontal (gum) disease in the past?
   

• Have you been advised to have deep cleanings or even surgery to treat your gums in the past?
   

• Would you like to save your teeth if it were possible, to avoid dentures and the troubles that come with them?
   

• Are your gums sore?
   

• Are you willing to follow specific post operative procedures to do your part in having an optimal final result?
   

• Are your teeth loose?
   

• Do you have consistently bad breath?
   

• Have you heard of horror stories from others who have had conventional "cut and sew" surgery and would like to avoid having the same experience?

If you answered yes to all of the above answers or even just some of them, you should look into LANAP further.
 

Therapy Benefits, WHY IS LPT better than traditional Gum Surgery?

• 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 less time than traditional surgery. All it takes is two 2-hour visits to the dentist and two follow up visits. Traditional surgery requires four sessions of about one hour each, with subsequent visits for suture removal and additional check-ups.
   

• LPT gives better, longer-lasting results. In fact, 98% of LPT treated patients remain stable after five years, while only 5% reportedly remain stable after surgery.
   

• Your dentist will probably recommend a soft diet for a few days, and common sense should prevail, but in most cases, patients feel good enough to eat anything they want shortly after the procedure has been completed.
   

• 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 Coumadin or Cyclosporin.
   

The LPT Procedure

Patient FAQ:

What is Periodontal Disease?
It's an infection of the gums. It starts out as plaque, an opaque film on the teeth that hardens to form calculus or tartar. As tartar accumulates, it harbors bacteria which attacks the soft tissue around the gums. This early stage of gum disease is called Gingivitis. Symptoms include red swollen gums, bleeding, bad breath and, sometimes, an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Untreated, Gingivitis becomes Periodontitis. At this severe stage, bacteria destroys both the gums and the supporting bone structurel Pockets form where teeth are separated from the gums and surrounding bones. Left untreated, Periodontitis eventually results in tooth loss.

What's the best way to treat Periodontal Disease?
LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY (LPT) a patented new non-surgical laser alternative to gum surgery, is a less painful, less traumatic way to treat periodontal disease at any stage.

What's different about LPT?
LPT uses a special kind of laser called the PerioLase®, 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 a couple of 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?
LPT doesn't take much time at all -- just two two-hour sessions versus eight to ten one-hour sessions with surgery. You don't have to worry about bleeding, stitches or post-treatment infection, because your gums haven't been cut.

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 LPT, you can drive your car, go back to work, or do anything else you like.

I can see how good LPT is - but is it very expensive and will my insurance cover it?
The good news is, LPT is actually no more expensive than periodontal surgery. There is no special code for our therapy, so if your insurance company will reimburse for conventional surgery, they will reimburse for LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY.

CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION TO SEE IF YOU'RE A CANDIDATE FOR LASER GUM THERAPY - (770)888-3384