Since the mid 80’s, I anticipated that lasers would play a major role in the non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease. More than 20 years ago, I took my first laser course in San Francisco, with American Dental Lasers.
In addition to promoting the laser’s potential to deliver non-invasive surgery, early lasers were marketed as an effective tool for sterilizing the pocket and killing the bacteria, which invade the soft tissue lining of the pocket.
Lasers were purported to detoxify the cementum of the root as well. It sounded great, but the marketing hype was not supported by my clinical experience. And, what was more troubling was that there were no published papers in refereed journals evidencing credibility for this approach.
I’m writing to tell you that the wait is over, the time is now, and we have at our finger tips, a powerful tool that was unimagined in the past! The “Gold Standard” Periodontists have been looking for since the specialty began is “New Attachment,” which means regeneration of lost Bone, Cementum and Periodontal Ligament.
I feel confident that my professional colleagues would not characterize me as a therapeutic “Cowboy.” I value my professional and academic reputation too much to embrace controversial technologies or recommend unproven treatment methods to my patients, my colleagues, or my students.
For some years, I have been treating advanced periodontal disease with a laser rather than a scalpel!
We have been using LANAP, an FDA approved, patented laser protocol. The technique features a free running Nd:Yag laser, which has been proven to achieve pocket reduction and true periodontal regeneration. In short LANAP reverses, controls and corrects periodontal disease without a knife!
What is truly amazing is that patients experience virtually none of the postoperative pain and excessive gingival recession associated with traditional pocket elimination surgery.
Laser periodontal treatment is efficient and can be delivered in just a few visits. Patient acceptance of this revolutionary approach to the management of periodontal disease is near 100%. Many of the patients referred, have either refused traditional surgery, have periodontal disease that has proven resistant to conventional treatment, or have medical issues, which preclude the usual invasive forms of surgical intervention.
But, don’t take my word for it! In 2007, Dr. Raymond Yukna published the results of a human block section study in the prestigious International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry. Human block sections represent the highest level of research evidence. In every case, he observed gains of new attachment.
This article represents the quality science supporting the considerable benefits of this FDA approved and patented alternative to traditional periodontal surgery. A trusted friend and mentor, Ray Yukna, the principal investigator of this treatment method, is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Colorado. His credentials as a researcher and educator are unparalleled.
I am pleased to be the First Dentist in Philadelphia to offer this amazing new treatment modality, which offers the most effective alternative to conventional periodontal surgery to come along since I have been in practice.
I. Stephen Brown, DDS, FACD, FICD