FDA approves laser procedure that stimulates regrowth of oral tissue, bone

Millennium Dental Technologies (Cerritos, CA) has received FDA clearance for use of its Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) in periodontal tissue regeneration on a previously diseased root surface, meaning that gum tissues lost to disease can be fully regenerated and return to functional health.

Related: Study shows Nd:YAG laser procedure effective in treating gum disease

The LANAP procedure creates true regeneration of tissues of the mouth that were damaged previously by disease using no biologics, growth factors, exogenous bone grafts, foreign membranes, scaffolding, scalpel, or stitches. Using the company's PerioLase MVP-7 variable pulsed laser specifically designed to perform the LANAP protocol, doctors can stimulate and activate oral stem cells—particularly fibroblasts—to form the necessary cellular components that turn into regenerated tissue. The laser's near-infrared (1064 nm) laser wavelength passes through healthy tissue, and is selectively absorbed in bacteria and diseased tissues without harming other tissues.

The energy from the laser penetrates 4–6 mm beyond the tissue surface to kill bacteria, thereby eliminating infection and inflammation. Once the mouth has been cleared of infectious agents, the laser interacts with hemoglobin to seal the gums with stable fibrin clotting to achieve a clean, closed environment to create regeneration. Multiple peer-reviewed, post-procedure studies tracking results over time show increased regeneration and continued improvement of oral health.

When compared to osseous surgery or versions of scalpel-flap surgery for gum disease, patients treated with the LANAP protocol experience less pain, bleeding, swelling, sensitivity, gum loss, tooth loss, and post-operative infections.

For more information, please visit www.lanap.com.