laser periodontal therapy®...
Laser
Periodontal Therapy® (LPT) is a revolutionary new way to treat gum
disease.
For years, Dr. George was concerned about the invasive nature of conventional periodontal treatment. Because it involved surgically removing diseased gum tissue, healing required suturing and placing a cumbersome and uncomfortable dressing over the healing tissue.
After considerable research, Dr. George has found a much less invasive and much more comfortable way to treat this wide-spread condition compared to traditional gum surgery. The procedure, called LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure), works on gum disease similarly to how LASIX works with eyes.
Due to the design of the PerioLase MVP-7 laser (pictured above in Dr. George's office), Dr. George is able to target only the infected cells and bacteria allowing the body to naturally regenerate much of the lost gum attachment.
To watch the video that demonstrates how the Periolase
treats tissue,
click on the small arrow under the video frame. File is large and may take
a few
moments to load.
This is a QuickTime video, you must have the QuickTime player installed.
You can dowload the QuickTime Player here.
The PerioLase MVP-7 is the first and only laser to receive FDA approval for the LANAP procedure. Dr. George is one of only a few hundred dentists in the country licensed to perform LPT.
What this means for you are superior results with a minimally invasive non-traumatic procedure. Our patients are returning for post-op exams with smiles on their faces.
Additional Video Education:
These videos are large files and may take a few minutes to load. The videos are QuickTime videos, you must have the Quicktime player installed.
High Resolution
Broadband |
Low Resolution
Broadband |
| Patient Education 1 | Patient Education 1 |
| Patient Education 2 | |
| Patient Education 3 | Patient Education 3 |
| Patient Education 4 | Patient Education 4 |
| LANAP Patient Education | LANAP Patient Education |
Periolase in the News
High Resolution
Broadband |
Low Resolution
Broadband |
| KABC-TV | KABC-TV |
| KCBS-TV | KCBS-TV |
| KGO-TV | KGO-TV |
| KGTV | KGTV |
Questions and answers about Laser Periodontal Therapy®
Laser Periodontal Therapy® is a laser based technique for the
treatment of periodontal disease using the Millennium Dental Technologies,
Inc., PerioLase® Laser. Fear of periodontal treatment vanishes
when patients find out no scalpel or sutures will be used. Patient
friendly laser treatment gets patients to agree to the treatment they
need and continue with the follow-up care that is prescribed.
Our office is one of the first in the area to offer Laser Periodontal Therapy® for
the treatment of gingivitis and/or periodontitis. Following are commonly asked
questions about this technology.
Tartar, associated with inflamed and bleeding gums, is removed form
the root surface of the tooth using an ultrasonic scaler and small
instruments.
Then, a small amount of light energy from a laser is directed through a tiny
fiber, which is gently placed between the gum and tooth. This light energy removes
a tiny amount of diseased tissue and aids in reducing the bacteria associated
with the disease. After the area is thoroughly cleaned, the body can heal the
area naturally.
Although the procedure itself can be virtually painless, we may anesthetize the area for the patient’s comfort. In this way we can precisely direct the laser for treatment. Post-procedure discomfort is typically minimal and of short duration.
Initial treatment is focused on scaling and the use of small instruments to remove the tartar. Then, the laser portion of the treatment is performed and normally only takes a few minutes. Depending on the severity of the patient’s periodontal disease, treatment may be accomplished in one office visit or in multiple visits. The estimated treatment time is reviewed with patients when we discuss their treatment plan.
Typically we use the same billing codes as traditional gum surgery
and the laser treatment is generally no more expensive than traditional
surgery. There are other factors which may affect the cost, such as
the severity of the periodontal disease, and how many teeth are involved.
Many insurance plans pay only for a portion of this treatment. Patients
should discuss their payment options with the dental office personnel
as we offer financing for this treatment.
The dramatically increased comfort for our patients made the new system attractive
to our office. We do encourage patients to take care of the need now to reduce
further damage to their gums, teeth and bone.
At this time there is no “cure” for gum disease. Laser Periodontal Therapy (LPT), as well as all forms of gum treatment, is a way of managing a condition for which there is no cure. I tell my patients to look at laser treatment as a way of turning back the clock on the progress of their gum disease. LPT has been shown in FDA trials to help regain lost supporting attachment of the teeth. The long term results are a direct result of excellent home care and frequent preventive professional maintenance.