A primary differentiation of LANAP® versus the traditional surgical method is what tissue is eliminated during the process. In classic periodontal surgery, your dentist will do their best to get rid of just the decayed tissue; however, this is nearly impossible to achieve. The healthy gum tissue will also be subjected to the surgical procedure, and often, some are removed. With the LANAP® protocol, only the decayed tissue is targeted for removal.
Gum disease is classified according to how deep the pockets are. The deeper the pockets, the more severe the problem and also the potential for bone loss. Healthy gums have pockets that range from 1-3mm. Once the pockets reach 4mm, the early damage of gingivitis is now noticeable and present. If the pockets reach 5mm or above periodontal disease is likely the problem, and bone loss can rapidly progress. In typical situations, patients that reach 7mm or above would have had to have traditional surgical procedures to correct. Surgery means a painful procedure with longer healing time.