thegumdr.com > Parkersburg news and sentinel article

Laser surgery treats gum disease

POSTED: February 6, 2008

   Dr. Richard Newhart is the only dentist in West Virginia licensed to perform a new oral laser surgery to treat periodontal disease.

The surgery, called the Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP), is being hailed as revolutionary in the fight against periodontal disease, Newhart, a periodontist, said. The procedure uses an advanced laser as a less-invasive means of treating periodontitis.

Periodontal disease starts when tartar and bacteria under the gum line lead to infection. As the body fights the infection, the gums become inflamed. Pockets form between the gum and tooth, making plaque harder to remove. As the disease advances, bone damage occurs and can lead to tooth loss, Newhart said.


 Nonsurgical treatments of the condition include scaling and root planing. Scaling involves removing tartar deposits at and just below the gum line while planing smooths rough spots on the roots where bacteria collect. Antibiotics and bite correction, often involving the use of a splint, can also be employed, Newhart said.

In many cases, however, surgery is required to reduce pocket depth and remove bacteria. The surgery involves lifting and rolling back the gum before removing tartar and diseased gum tissue, Newhart said.

The bone is then smoothed and reshaped to reduce pits and rough areas where bacteria grow. The surgery, which is done with a scalpel, requires stitching and often results in a lower gum line, with more tooth visible than before, he said.

The laser surgery involves the use of technology and protocol recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Newhart said. The laser is designed to “tell the difference” between unhealthy and healthy tissue, Newhart said. When activated, the laser does not damage normal tissue, he said. However, the laser removes bacteria and unhealthy tissue because it is designed to destroy black-pigmented pathogenic bacteria.


  To illustrate the laser’s ability, Newhart can use the laser to remove lettering written in black ink on a carpule of anesthesia. The laser reacts to the black-pigmented ink by burning it off, but the glass carpule and liquid inside are untouched and unharmed by the device.

Newhart said the advantages of the laser surgery include the regrowth of bone and cementum and the periodontal ligament’s new attachment to the tooth surface. In addition, patients experience minimal discomfort because scalpels and sutures are not used, he said.

Other benefits include an increased likelihood of saving “hopeless teeth.” In addition, the laser surgery can often be cheaper than traditional treatments because scaling and planing are not necessary before the surgery.

“I am very excited to be the first dentist in the state of West Virginia to be licensed in this technique,” said Newhart, whose office is on Market Street. “Right now, I feel that patients referred to our office should be given the choice of the LANAP technique or standard periodontal therapy.”

Newhart said fear is the main reason people do not opt for periodontal therapy. Patients are afraid of the invasive surgery and the pain associated with it.

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