A More Comfortable, More Effective Way to Treat Gum Disease
Gum Surgery Has Never Been This Easy!
Gum Surgery Has Never Been This Easy!
Advanced Periodontal Treatment Without Traditional Surgery
If you have been diagnosed with moderate to severe gum disease, the thought of traditional gum surgery can feel like a reason to put off treatment altogether. At Wright Perio & Implants, Dr. Raymond Wright Jr. offers a better path forward.
As a trained LANAP® provider, Dr. Wright uses advanced laser technology to treat periodontal disease at its source with a level of precision, comfort, and effectiveness that conventional surgery simply cannot match. For a practice built on the philosophy of minimally invasive care and saving natural teeth whenever possible, LANAP is a natural cornerstone of everything we do.
What Is the LANAP Protocol?
LANAP stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. It is a patented, FDA-cleared laser treatment protocol specifically designed to treat chronic periodontitis, the advanced form of gum disease that destroys gum tissue, bone, and the ligaments that hold teeth in place.
Unlike traditional gum surgery, which requires cutting away infected tissue and suturing the gums back into place, LANAP uses a precisely calibrated laser to selectively target and remove only the diseased tissue and bacteria within the gum pockets, leaving all healthy tissue completely undisturbed. The laser then stimulates the body’s natural healing response, promoting the regeneration of new bone and the reattachment of connective tissue to the tooth roots. The result is a treatment that not only manages gum disease but also actively supports true periodontal healing.
Are You a Candidate for LANAP Laser Treatment?
LANAP is designed for patients with moderate to severe gum disease in San Clemente, CA, with moderate to severe gum disease seeking an effective treatment that does not involve traditional surgery. Dr. Wright will perform a thorough periodontal evaluation to determine whether LANAP is the appropriate treatment for your condition. You may be a strong candidate if you are experiencing any of the following:
- A diagnosis of moderate to severe periodontitis
- Deep periodontal pockets that have not responded adequately to scaling and root planing
- Significant bone loss around one or more teeth
- Gum recession, persistent bleeding, or chronic inflammation
- Teeth that are at risk of being lost without intervention
- A desire to avoid traditional gum surgery and its associated recovery
- Systemic health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, that make conventional surgery a higher risk
How Is LANAP Different
from Traditional Gum Surgery?
Unlike surgical periodontal disease treatment, which requires cutting and stitching the gums, LANAP in San Clemente, CA, uses a gentle laser to remove the source of periodontitis without damaging healthy tissue. It’s a significantly more comfortable and predictable experience, with faster healing and minimal disruption to your daily life.
LANAP®
- No scalpels or sutures
- Minimally invasive laser technology
- Faster recovery
- Less swelling and bleeding
- Stimulates bone growth around teeth and roots
- Selective removal of diseased tissue only
- Healthy tissue is preserved
- Return to normal activities quickly
- Minimal disruption
Traditional Surgery
- Requires cutting and stitching
- More invasive procedure
- Longer healing period
- More post-op swelling
- Limited or no bone regrowth encouraged
- Healthy tissue may also be removed or damaged
- Extended downtime
- Slower return to daily routine
- Uses surgical instruments and scalpels
The Benefits of LANAP Treatment
- Eliminates harmful bacteria and infected tissue with pinpoint precision
- Stimulates true regeneration of bone, cementum, and connective tissue
- Treats gum disease without cutting, stitches, or prolonged recovery
- Significantly less post-treatment discomfort compared to conventional surgery
- Preserves healthy gum tissue that traditional surgery would remove
- Reduces periodontal pocket depth and supports long-term gum stability
- Can save teeth facing extraction due to advanced bone loss
- Safe for patients with health conditions that increase surgical risk
- FDA-cleared with more than two decades of clinical research supporting its efficacy
What to Expect During LANAP
Treatment at Wright Perio & Implants
Before treatment begins, Dr. Wright performs a thorough assessment of your gum health, including precise measurements of your periodontal pocket depths, digital imaging to evaluate bone loss, and a full review of your medical and dental history. This evaluation serves as the foundation of your personalized LANAP treatment plan and ensures that every aspect of your care is tailored to your specific condition
With local anesthesia in place, Dr. Wright gently guides a thin laser fiber, roughly the width of three human hairs, into the space between your teeth and gums. The laser is applied at a precise wavelength to selectively remove diseased tissue and bacteria from within the periodontal pockets while leaving all healthy tissue completely intact. There is no cutting, no removal of healthy gum tissue, and no sutures required.
Following the initial laser pass, ultrasonic instruments are used to carefully remove calculus and bacterial deposits from the tooth root surfaces. Smoothing these surfaces eliminates the rough areas where bacteria tend to re-establish and creates a clean environment that supports the reattachment of healthy gum tissue to the tooth.
The laser is reapplied at a lower energy setting to stimulate the formation of a stable blood clot at the base of each treated pocket. This clot acts as a natural seal that protects the treated area from reinfection and creates the biological environment needed for regeneration of new bone, new cementum, and new connective tissue attachment.
Following the laser procedure, Dr. Wright evaluates and adjusts your bite as needed. Reducing bite stress on the treated teeth supports undisturbed healing and helps maximize the regenerative outcome of the procedure.
Recovery following LANAP is remarkably well-tolerated by most patients. Mild tenderness in the treated area is common in the first day or two but typically resolves quickly. Dr. Wright schedules follow-up visits to monitor your healing, measure improvements in pocket depth, and ensure your gum health is progressing as expected. Ongoing periodontal maintenance is essential for sustaining your results over the long term.
