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Most people have heard about LAPT in passing yet few understand what this acronym stands for and why it is becoming so important in the context of oral health. LAPT is short for laser-assisted periodontal therapy. This technological innovation makes it that much easier to treat periodontal disease without causing pain or taking up a significant amount of time.

The Basics of LAPT

LAPT involves the use of a laser to treat periodontal disease. Everyone should know the periodontal disease has the potential to be completely painless, meaning you might suffer from it right now yet not be aware of it until there is damage to the gums and the bones that support them. Our dentist will determine if you will need a local anaesthetic to eliminate any potential discomfort. The ensuing LAPT will prove quiet, controlled and pain-free.

The technology underlying LAPT has been in use dating back to the 80s. The laser’s light energy stimulates both biological and cellular responses. The heightened energy normalizes cell functionality and catalyzes the healing of tissues.

Why LAPT is Becoming That Much More Popular

Periodontal laser therapy is a significant improvement over conventional scaling and root planing. This approach is minimally invasive and does not cause significant discomfort. If you know you have periodontal disease or suspect you might have it, it is in your interest to reach out to our practice to schedule an appointment.

We will analyze your mouth to determine if you have periodontal disease and review treatment options. The vast majority of our patients saddled by periodontal disease receive LAPT. Let’s take a closer look at how LAPT enhances gum health.

How LAPT Works

LAPT is centered on the precise use of a laser. The laser targets diseased tissue along the gums, destroying it along with bacteria within periodontal pockets. Water is used in addition to the laser beam. These two combine together to make the treatment of periodontal disease that much more comfortable, ultimately making the experience as painless as possible.

A large part of the appeal of LAPT is it is unnecessary for the dentist to make an incision on the gums or compromise the underlying bone. In contrast, such incisions are necessary with gum flap surgery. The device used in LAPT is precise to the point that the dentist can leave the patient’s healthy gum tissue in place.

LAPT decontaminates bacteria within the gums yet that is not the extent of its utility. This form of laser dentistry is also helpful in that it decreases the depth of periodontal pockets. Whether you have such pockets and/or bacterial contamination, LAPT will provide extensive benefits. Our dentist carefully uses the soft tissue diode laser to eliminate the diseased gum tissue, destroying pathogenic bacteria and catalyzing healing on the cellular level where it matters most.

The biostimulation kick-starts the regeneration of the tissue your gums need to remain healthy, function properly and look aesthetically pleasing. LAPT promotes tissue regrowth, expediting the body’s natural inclination to repair itself on its own. The diseased tissue is removed, safeguarding the healthy tissue while sealing the infected areas. This approach sets the stage for the healthy tissue to regrow.

The dentist applies the laser once again at the end of the session to sterilize and clean the area treated. The lasers seals the area, creating a blood clot that prevents the infection from regrowing, ultimately creating an environment where both gone and gum regenerate. Check out our smile gallery for yourself and you will see patients who have received LAPT as well as other treatments and procedures at our dental practice have lovely smiles they are proud to show off to others.

Why LAPT has Emerged as the Best Treatment for Gum Disease

The main reason why so many dentists and patients are partial to LAPT compared to other treatment modalities is LAPT is that much more comfortable. Though general anesthesia is unnecessary for patients to make it through the procedure without pain, there is the potential for the dentist to provide it. However, no cutting will be necessary, meaning there won’t be bleeding and swelling as occurs with other treatment modalities. LAPT is also comparably less invasive, highly precise and designed to preserve healthy gum tissues for posterity’s sake.

The end result is a completely safe procedure that leads to a surprisingly fast recovery time. The minimal invasiveness combined with the precision of the laser expedites the recovery, setting the stage for a rapid and completely natural regrowth of the gum tissue. The laser used in LAPT even sterilizes the gum tissue by removing diseased tissue to prevent infection as well as potential reinfection, setting the stage for the patient to transition to a new chapter of life without the prospect of reinfection.

All in all, LAPT requires merely one treatment session. Schedule your appointment with our office today and you will have done your part to eliminate your gum disease. The alternative is to do nothing and allow gum disease to become that much more serious as you continue to ignore the problem. Be proactive, stop gum disease in its tracks with LAPT and you will enjoy a much healthier mouth without any incisions or stitches in your gums.

You can Return to Regular Living After LAPT There is no need to take an extended break from work or other obligations after LAPT is performed. You will recover from LAPT in 24 hours or less. In fact, you’ll feel perfectly normal after the procedure is complete. Though there might be a need for pain medication after therapy, most patients segue back to regular activities on the same day as the procedure. This is in stark contrast to conventional periodontal surgery that requires the use of pain medication for several days or even longer.

Schedule an Appointment With SmileHawaii

Our dental health specialists are a call away. Whether you are interested in LAPT or another dental procedure or treatment, we are here to help. Reach out to us today to request an appointment. You can also contact us by phone at (808) 707-7445.