Comprehensive specialist examination
Laser Gum Treatment (LANAP)
LANAP at Twin Rivers Periodontics treats gum disease with minimally invasive laser technology for faster healing, less discomfort, and no cutting or stitches.
LANAP
Effective Treatment for Gum DIsease
Gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults. Dr. Molina uses the LANAP protocol (Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure) to treat mild to advanced periodontitis (gum disease) and help save your natural teeth. LANAP is a non-surgical treatment—no incisions, flaps, or sutures, with little discomfort and downtime.
LANAP can control gum disease in most mild to moderate cases and is an important first step in treating severe periodontitis, helping stop disease progression and calm inflammation.
How LANAP
Works
During LANAP treatment, Dr. Molina gently passes a specialized dental laser along the tooth and beneath the gumline to target infected tissue and bacteria inside the periodontal pockets. The laser selectively treats diseased areas while leaving healthy gum tissue intact.
After the infected tissue is addressed, we clean the root surfaces of your teeth to remove remaining plaque and calculus that contribute to inflammation.
Once the area is cleaned, the laser is used again to help disinfect the pocket and support the healing of the surrounding tissues. This process helps the gums reattach more tightly to the teeth and reduces pocket depth over time.
Because the procedure is minimally invasive, we typically perform it under local anesthesia, as it does not require incisions or stitches, allowing most patients to recover comfortably and return to normal activities quickly.
State-of-the-Art
Laser
Dr. Molina uses the Millennium laser, the world’s FDA-approved laser proven to regenerate bone and other tissue lost to gum disease.
Benefits of LANAP
Over Traditional Surgery
During traditional surgery for advanced gum disease, the gums are cut and lifted back to allow access for cleaning the roots and bone. In some cases, bone may also be reshaped to reduce deep periodontal pockets. Sutures are required to allow the gums to heal. The LANAP laser targets the diseased tissue without cutting or suturing, controlling infection while preserving healthy gum tissue, and patients feel less post-treatment discomfort.
Flap surgery can also lead to gum recession. During the surgery, the gums are moved, reshaped and repositioned, which can result in the gums shrinking or settling lower on the tooth than originally. LANAP doesn’t reposition the gums, and their integrity is preserved.
