Save · Laser Periodontal Care (LANAP®)

Gum surgery, without the scalpel.

LANAP® treats gum disease with a laser instead of a scalpel and sutures, removing what's diseased and leaving what's healthy.

If you've been told you need gum surgery, or that a tooth can't be saved, it's worth another conversation. Second opinions are welcome here.

Two periapical radiographs of the upper right first molar in one patient, stacked vertically: before laser gum treatment and at thirteen months. A dashed red outline on the first film marks the area of bone loss; a dashed green outline on the second marks the same area at thirteen months.

X-ray appearance in one patient treated by Dr. Oh. Results vary.

How LANAP works

Gum disease is an infection in the space between your teeth and gums. Left alone, it quietly breaks down the bone that holds your teeth in place.

In LANAP, a thin laser fiber travels below the gumline and targets the diseased tissue and the bacteria behind the infection. The roots are cleaned, and the laser makes a final pass to help seal the area.

What healing looks like

Because there's no incision to heal, many patients report less discomfort afterward than they expected. Everyone heals at a different pace, so we can't promise exactly how you'll feel.

If fear has kept you from getting your gums treated, you can stop at any time, and nothing happens without your OK. Our page for nervous patients has more.

For some patients, Dr. Oh adds a Perio Protect® tray to the daily routine after LANAP, to keep working below the gumline at home; here's how that works.

No scalpel, no sutures
The laser works below the gumline, so there's nothing to cut or stitch.
Designed to preserve healthy gum
LANAP is designed to target diseased tissue and bacteria and to preserve more of your natural gumline than conventional surgery typically does.

Questions we hear

How is LANAP different from traditional gum surgery?
Traditional surgery cuts the gum open, cleans underneath, and stitches it closed. It works, but it's invasive and often costs healthy gum tissue. LANAP uses a laser instead, and the aim is to keep more of your natural gumline.
Can LANAP save a tooth I was told to remove?
Sometimes. A tooth with a bleak outlook is often worth a closer look before anyone talks about removing it.
What is recovery like?
Because there's no incision to heal, many patients tell us it was easier than they expected. Everyone heals at a different pace. You'll go home with written aftercare instructions, and we'll check in with you as you heal.
Will the bone and tissue come back?
The laser used for LANAP® treatment is FDA-cleared for true periodontal regeneration — new cementum, new periodontal ligament, and new bone — when used specifically in the LANAP® protocol (510(k) K151763, 2016). Cleared is not the same as approved, and it does not promise a result in any one case. Dr. Oh will explain what's realistic for yours.
What if the problem is around an implant, not a tooth?
That is a different procedure with the same laser. See laser care for ailing implants (LAPIP™).

Your visit, step by step

What happens at a LANAP visit

STEP 01

Evaluate and measure

Dr. Oh measures the pockets around each tooth; the depth shows where the disease is and how far it has gone. You see the numbers and the plan before anything begins.

STEP 02

The laser clears the infection

Working tooth by tooth, the fiber goes below the gumline where the measuring showed disease.

STEP 03

Roots cleaned smooth

Ultrasonic instruments clear hardened deposits from the roots so the gum has a clean surface to reattach to.

STEP 04

Seal and follow up

A final laser pass seals the area and supports healing. Then we see you at your regular checkups and stay with you through it.

Wondering about cost? See Insurance Questions and Financing.

If you were told you need gum surgery, call us first.

Call (973) 808-4373 and we'll set up an evaluation at Sora Dentistry. No pressure, just an honest look at your options. 271 US Highway 46, Bldg G, Ste 109, Fairfield, NJ.

Call (973) 808-4373