4555 William Penn Hwy • Bethlehem, PA 18020 • 610-866-0552

Laser Periodontal Therapy

Conquering and preventing gum disease (Periodontal disease) is easier now than ever before with the Periolase and Laser Periodontal therapy.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of your gums. Newly
published research has cited a link between periodontal disease and heart disease, respiratory disease, and premature low birth -weight babies. The question is, with all that is available to prevent gum disease, "Why do approximately 80% of American adults have it?"
The answer is that many people do not realize they have gum disease because it doesn't hurt in the early to moderate disease phases.

Traditional treatment involves using sharp instruments to scrape the tartar from the root surfaces (scaling and root planing), allowing the gum tissue to reattach to the roots. However, when the disease progresses to a point where scaling and root planing would not be effective, gum surgery is indicated. With traditional periodontal surgery, the gum tissue is cut with a scalpel and pushed aside. The roots and bone are cleared of deposits and smoothed. Then the gum tissue is replaced and stitches are used while the gum heals, often resulting in long exposed roots that are sensitive, unsightly, and vulnerable to decay.

At Excel Dental Care, we use a new procedure to treat gum disease without cutting your gums and using stitches. It is called Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure or LANAP for short. LANAP can accomplish the healing of your diseased periodontal tissue by using the only FDA
approved laser treatment protocol. Dr. Goldstein is the first and most experienced dentist in the Lehigh Valley to have received extensive training, to have been tested in its use, and to receive a license to perform this revolutionary procedure. LANAP is done with an amazing, one of a kind laser, the
Periolase MVP-7 from Millennium Dental Technologies.

In a nutshell, here is how LANAP with the Periolase works.

After your teeth and gums are totally numb (and do not forget that Medicated Relaxation is available at our office for those that are anxious in a dental chair) a small laser fiber approximately the diameter of a paper clip is inserted into the space between your tooth and gums. The energy from this laser light kills the bacteria that are causing your gum disease and selectively removes just the diseased tissue, leaving behind the healthy gum tissue. Then an ultrasonic cleaning instrument is used to remove the tartar from the root and tooth surfaces, washing away the debris with a steady flow of medicated solution. Finally, the laser is again passed around the gum tissue to form a natural bandage around the necks of the teeth sealing them from reinfection.

Sound simple? It is!

With the gum tissue completely numb, the treatment is essentially pain free as is the recovery period. In contrast, traditional periodontal surgery with the use of scalpels and sutures can often lead to a recovery period that can be quite uncomfortable. Where traditional gum surgery was indicated in just the very recent past, Periolase laser therapy is now available with less pain, quicker recovery, and less scarring. In addition, 98% of laser-treated patients do not have further disease progression after five years while it is estimated only 5% reportedly do not have further disease progression after traditional gum surgery.

For more information on Laser Periodontal Therapy, call Excel Dental Care at 610-866-0552. If you are concerned that you might have gum disease or your dentist has told you that you need to have gum surgery, let us show you how you can regain your oral health without the pain of traditional surgery.

To see an informative video on Laser Periodontal Therapy, click here.

back to library

Home | About Us | Patient Services | Photo Gallery | Patient Library | FAQs | Contact Us