First Laser Gum Disease Procedure to gain FDA Clearance

First Laser Gum Disease Procedure to gain FDA Clearance - “Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure or Laser-ANAP®”


The US Food and Drug Administration cleared Laser-ANAP? ("Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure") with a unique and specific claim for, "cementum-mediated new periodontal ligament attachment to the root surface in the absence of long junctional epithelium."
FDA clearance for Laser-ANAP?using the PerioLase?MVP-7?variable pulsed Nd:YAG dental laser follows three years of research at Louisiana State University, School of Dentistry, New Orleans, by principal investigator, Professor Raymond A. Yukna, DMD, MS, and coordinator of post-graduate periodontics at LSU. Professor Yukna led a controlled, blinded, clinical and human histology study that evidenced new root surface coating (cementum) and new connective tissue (periodontal ligament) formation (collagen) on on tooth roots by stimulating existing stem cells to grow following the use of the PerioLase?MVP-7?& Laser-ANAP?protocol.
"These results are very positive, very consistent, and very encouraging related to the treatment of deep gum pockets," said Yukna. "Dentists have been looking for ways to regenerate some of the tissues lost to gum infections and Laser-ANAP?is an exciting and revolutionary treatment protocol showing microscopically that we can form a new root coating (cementum) and new connective tissue attachment (collagen). Our consistent results (all LANAP treated teeth showed a positive result) suggest that the best possible type of healing can be obtained using the specific Laser-ANAP?protocol. This presents a wonderful alternative to traditional surgery."

@ Laser-assisted new attachment procedure inprivate practice by David M. Harris, PhD
-Article in PDF

***AAP-Commissioned ReviewLasers in Periodontics: A Review of the Literature Charles M. Cobb*
Conclusions: Based on this review of the literature, there is a great need to develop an evidence-based approach to the use of lasers forthe treatment of chronic periodontitis. Simply put, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that any specific wavelength of laser is superior to the traditional modalities of therapy. Current evidence does suggest that use of the Nd:YAGor Er:YAG wavelengths for treatment of chronic periodont it is may be equivalent to scaling and root planing (SRP) withrespect to reduction in probing depth and subgingival bacterial populations.However, if gain in clinical attachment level is considered the gold standard for non-surgical periodontal therapy, then the evidence supporting laser-mediated periodontal treatment over traditional therapy is minimal at best. Lastly, there is limited evidence suggesting that lasers used in an adjunctive capacity to SRP may provide some additional benefit. J Periodontol 2006;77:545-564.