LANAP stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. It is an FDA-cleared laser treatment for periodontal disease that replaces conventional scalpel-and-suture gum surgery with a minimally invasive laser approach.
The key difference is regeneration versus resection. Traditional osseous surgery cuts away gum tissue, reshapes bone, and often requires bone graft materials to fill the damage left behind. LANAP uses a precisely calibrated laser fiber to selectively remove only diseased tissue while leaving healthy tissue completely intact, then stimulates your body to regenerate its own new bone, new cementum, and new periodontal ligament. No cutting. No sutures. No artificial graft materials required.
LANAP is the only periodontal procedure that carries an FDA outcome claim of True Periodontal Regeneration.
Most patients are genuinely surprised by the comfort level of LANAP treatment. Local anesthetic is used throughout the procedure so you will not feel pain during treatment.
After your appointment, soreness is typically mild and manageable with over-the-counter ibuprofen. Most patients return to work and normal daily activities the very next day. This is a significant contrast to traditional gum surgery, which typically involves moderate to significant post-operative discomfort and several days of restricted activity.
If you experience significant dental anxiety, an anti-anxiety medication can be prescribed prior to your appointment. A driver will be required if that option is chosen.
LANAP is performed as a full-mouth procedure in a single appointment, typically lasting approximately three hours. Treating the entire mouth in one visit is both clinically optimal and far more convenient than the multiple appointments that traditional periodontal surgery often requires.
Recovery is significantly faster than traditional gum surgery. Most patients return to normal activity the day after their appointment.
For the first 7 to 10 days you will follow specific dietary guidelines, beginning with liquids and progressing to soft foods. Detailed post-operative instructions will be provided at your appointment and are designed to protect the healing process and support the best possible outcome.
Deeper tissue and bone regeneration continue beneath the surface over the following months, but most patients feel back to normal within a day or two of treatment.
Gum recession is a common and often permanent side effect of traditional osseous surgery because gum tissue is physically cut away during the procedure.
Because LANAP does not cut or remove gum tissue, recession is minimal. Some slight reduction may occur as inflammation resolves, but the aesthetic results are far more favorable than those of conventional surgery. Patients who were concerned about changes to their smile with traditional surgery consistently find LANAP results more acceptable.
LANAP is indicated for patients with moderate to severe periodontal disease. You may be a candidate if you have any of the following:
- Periodontal pocket depths of 5mm or greater
- Radiographic evidence of bone loss around your teeth
- Bleeding gums or persistent gum infections
- Loose or shifting teeth
- A history of periodontal treatment with disease recurrence
- Peri-implantitis or a failing dental implant
- A diabetes diagnosis combined with periodontal disease
- A desire to avoid traditional scalpel gum surgery
- A need to remain on blood thinners or anticoagulant medications If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease or told you need gum surgery, reaching out to discuss whether LANAP is right for you is a great first step. Dr. Hughes will personally review your information and follow up to discuss your options.
Yes, and this is what makes LANAP uniquely different from every other periodontal treatment available. The FDA granted the LANAP protocol clearance specifically for an outcome of True Periodontal Regeneration, meaning new cementum, new periodontal ligament, and new alveolar bone on a previously diseased root surface.
This is not repair or maintenance. It is true biological regeneration of the structures that hold your teeth in place. No traditional gum surgery carries this FDA outcome claim. That said, LANAP is not a magic wand. It is not going to grow all of your bone back, and results vary depending on the severity of disease, pocket depths, and individual healing response. What LANAP does is arrest the disease, create the biological conditions for your body to regenerate as much as it is capable of, and preserve teeth that might otherwise be lost. For many patients, that is the difference between keeping their natural teeth and losing them.
LANAP is not new or experimental. The protocol has been FDA-cleared since 2004, when the PerioLase MVP-7 first received clearance for the laser-assisted new attachment procedure (510(k) K030290), supported by human histological research published in peer-reviewed periodontal journals.
A second, more expansive FDA clearance followed in March 2016 (510(k) K151763ve), granting the specific outcome claim of True Periodontal Regeneration based on a second independent human histological study.
More than 20 years of clinical use, peer-reviewed research, and regulatory history support the LANAP protocol.
Think about LANAP the way you think about LASIK eye surgery. LASIK is FDA-cleared, scientifically validated, and often has a more desired outcome to wearing glasses, yet most insurance plans do not fully cover it. Patients pay out of pocket because the outcome justifies the investment. LANAP is that same story in periodontics.
The American Dental Association has specific billing codes for traditional osseous surgery because that procedure has been performed the same way for decades. LANAP works through an entirely different mechanism. It does not cut tissue, does not place sutures, and does not require bone graft materials. Because there is no existing ADA code that accurately describes it, LANAP is submitted to insurance as D4999, the unlisted periodontal procedure code, along with a detailed clinical narrative explaining your diagnosis and the procedure performed.
Some insurance plans apply a partial benefit toward this code. For specific questions about your coverage and payment arrangements, speak directly with the dental office where you will be receiving treatment. They manage all insurance submissions and billing on your behalf.
Full-mouth LANAP treatment in the US typically ranges from $4,500 to $8,000 depending on the severity of disease and individual treatment needs.
It is worth putting this in perspective. Untreated periodontal disease leads to progressive bone loss and eventual tooth loss. A single tooth extraction with an implant costs in the range of $3,500 to $8,000. Full-mouth extractions with implants range from $25,000 to $60,000 or more. Traditional osseous surgery with bone grafting typically runs $8,000 to $15,000. LANAP addresses the disease at its source, regenerates the supporting bone, and preserves your natural teeth at a fraction of the cost of downstream tooth replacement.
Not necessarily. If you already have a dentist who has diagnosed periodontal disease, Dr. Hughes is happy to coordinate care directly with your dental team so your treatment is seamless and connected.
If you do not currently have a dentist, Dr. Hughes can see you at a partner office in Urbandale and discuss next steps from there.
You are welcome to reach out directly using the contact form on this site. Dr. Hughes will personally follow up to discuss your situation and whether LANAP may be right for you.
Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that progresses silently. Without treatment, the infection continues to destroy the bone and connective tissue that hold your teeth in place. The consequences include:
- Increasing pocket depths and bone loss
- Tooth mobility and shifting
- Tooth loss requiring extractions, implants, or dentures
- Systemic health consequences including worsening glycemic control in diabetics, increased cardiovascular risk, and complications in pregnancy
Yes. One of the significant advantages of LANAP over traditional gum surgery is that patients rarely need to discontinue anticoagulant medications before treatment.
Traditional scalpel surgery often requires patients to stop blood thinners beforehand, which can create medical risk.
LANAP uses laser energy to create a stable fibrin clot that seals the treated area, significantly reducing bleeding. Patients on warfarin, aspirin, Plavix, Eliquis, and similar medications are routinely treated with LANAP safely. Do not stop taking any anticoagulant medications without advice from your physician.
Still Have Questions?
Dr. Hughes is happy to answer any questions about the LANAP procedure, your candidacy, or what to expect. Use the form below to reach out directly and you will hear back within one business day.
Ready to find out if LANAP is right for you? Dr. Hughes has helped patients save teeth that other dentists recommended extracting. Contact her directly and take the first step toward keeping your natural teeth.