Laser surgery can reverse gum disease minus the pain, Long Island periodontist confirms

April 25, 2012 - PRLog -- With just a few more weeks to go before Easter Season officially ends, Dr. David Scharf has issued a statement re-affirming a "modern-day miracle" for individuals battling with chronic periodontal disease.

Laser gum surgery can reverse 20 years of damage in just one to two days, the Long Island periodontist reminded.

Dr. Scharf is referring to a procedure called laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) more than a decade ago.

The protocol is fundamentally non-invasive because unlike conventional surgery, patients need not worry about having their gums cut and then stitched back again, he explained.

The FDA-approved laser surgery consists of four phases:

Removal of diseased tissue. Without risking any damage to healthy tissues, the laser makes a sweep on the gum lining and kills bacteria.

Removal of tartar. Piezo instruments are employed to remove calcified plaque (tartar) in the root. Irrigation and another laser sweep ensure that bacteria are eliminated.

Creation of the clot. In order to reconnect the gum to the tooth and to facilitate bone regeneration, laser on a different setting is used to fabricate a fibrin clot.

Adjustment of the bite. Finally, the dentist re-checks that when patients open and close their mouth, the teeth are aligned evenly and allow for optimal healing.

On the average, it can take only three visits or a maximum of two hours to complete the four-stage LANAP and for almost the same cost as traditional surgery, Dr. Scharf beamed.

He added that there may be some discomfort at first and that nursing the gums back to health may involve gentle brushing, soft food diet for a couple of weeks, as well as periodic check-ups.

For the most part however, down times are virtually nil, he assured. This means that patients can finish their dental appointment in the morning and then report for work in the afternoon.

Today, there are over 1,000 dental practitioners licensed to perform LANAP, and Dr. Scharf is on a mission to spread the word that there is indeed a painless way to end and reverse periodontitis.

Periodontal disease has been tagged by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research as the leading trigger of tooth loss in adults.

Dr. David Scharf Laser Periodontal Therapy
98 East Main Street
Suite #2
Babylon, NY 11702

Phone: (631) 661-6633
Website: www.drscharf.com
Blogsite: www.longislandlaserperio.com