An exciting new way to treat periodontal (gum) disease is with a patented procedure called Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure, or LANAP. This procedure uses a specific infrared laser called a PerioLase MVP-7 by Millennium Dental Technologies. Patients love laser periodontal therapy because it eliminates the need for scalpels and sutures. It also eliminates the “long-in-the-tooth” problem with traditional surgery and the cutting away of the gingival height. This old way not only looks bad, but can also cause tooth sensitivity to cold due to exposed roots. This new minimally invasive procedure also results in decreased discomfort, no swelling and no bleeding.

Many people don’t realize they have periodontal, or “perio,” disease because it’s usually painless. One of the first signs is redness or slightly swollen gums and possible bleeding when brushing. This is gingivitis or simply inflamed gums without bone loss, and it is easily treated with a thorough teeth cleaning. If this is not done, then it progresses to more advanced forms and includes bone loss, recession and loose teeth.

Perio disease is caused by toxins that are released from anaerobic bacteria and sometimes viruses and amoeba that live in the plaque that forms on the roots of teeth. The toxins cause inflammation in a susceptible patient (host), and long-term inflammation causes breakdown of connective tissues and bone that hold teeth in place. If people keep their teeth clean every day and see a dentist regularly, their chances of perio disease will be very low.

Nutrition also plays a major role in a person’s resistance to the toxins and growth of the microbes. Maintaining good CoQ10 and B vitamin levels such as folic acid is important. Perio is also communicable from mothers, lovers and pets just like other microbial infections. It’s not a good idea to let children kiss their dogs or the aunt with perio disease kiss you or your children.

Why is perio disease so important? Perio disease is a higher risk factor for heart disease and stroke than both smoking cigarettes and high blood pressure! It’s also a major risk factor in diabetes, lung disease and pre-term low birth weight babies. In addition to these problems, perio disease also increases the risk of pancreatic cancer by 64 percent. People not only can lose their teeth to gum disease, but also they potentially lose their lives.

LANAP, with the PerioLase, is the only laser periodontal therapy system that has sufficient scientific data, including human histology, to justify its claims. Dr. Raymond Yukna, DMD, who has an MS from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, has conducted human histology tests proving new bone growth, new cementum and new connective tissue attachment. LANAP is like turning the clock back 10 to 15 years on tooth supporting structures. After five years, about 95 percent of conventional perio treatment needs to be redone, compared to about 5 percent of LANAP-treated teeth.

Another big advantage is the reduction in post-op discomfort. On a 0-10 scale, after anesthetic wears off, the average pain score is only 1.9. After 12 hours, this drops to 1.2. About half of my patients don’t need any pain medicine, and the other half typically take one 400-milligram dose of ibuprofen. The cost of LANAP is about the same as traditional periodontal surgery and is coded as osseous periodontal surgery for insurance purposes.

I once had a patient who said two separate dentists recommended for her to have 12 teeth extracted. Using LANAP, we were able to save all of her teeth. Another man had a pocket so deep I could only estimate its depth at 25 mm. After LANAP, his pocket is 3-4 mm in depth. We routinely see 12-mm pockets end up at 2-3 mm, but I only claim to be able to reduce pocket depth by 50 percent. So, if a 10-mm bleeding pocket goes to a 5-mm pocket with no inflammation, we are OK with that. My patients who have had one traditional surgery, or five in one patient’s case, are amazed at how quick, easy and painless LANAP is. As a general dentist, I’m really quite surprised that every periodontist in San Antonio doesn’t have a PerioLase! But at this point in time, there are no specialists in town with one.

As LASIK has revolutionized the treatment of vision problems, I like to think of LANAP as “LASIK for the gums.” Have your dental checkup soon. It could save your life.

For more information, visit www.totalmouthfitness.com.