Less Painful than Traditional Periodontal Surgery

LANAP® LAser Therapy

No Cut, No Sew, Laser Gum Treatment

Dr. Fullem is a periodontist who is specially trained to perform the FDA-cleared laser treatment called the LANAP® Protocol. This procedure treats the entire mouth when a patient has moderate-severe generalized periodontitis with damage to their gum tissue and jawbone.

Why Choose LANAP® Laser Therapy Treatment?

Patients who have moderate to severe periodontitis require surgical treatment to treat their active infection and correct the damage that the gum infection has caused. Periodontal laser therapy can be used on a single tooth or an entire mouth, depending on your level of disease.

Lasers = No Cut /No Sew

Periodontal laser therapy is an excellent treatment option because it can be done in-office with minimal discomfort compared to traditional periodontal surgery because there are no incisions and no sutures needed.

The LANAP® Protocol Procedure

LANAP® Protocol is performed in two visits. Each visit will treat one side of the mouth, top, and bottom. The procedure is done in the office under local anesthetic (numbing). While you are awake for the procedure, you will be comfortable the entire time.

Using a laser that is the width of about two human hairs, this therapy rids the periodontal pockets of bacteria, diseased tissue, and root debris, which encourages healing and regrowth of healthy tissues.

When you leave, you will not have any stitches or typically need gauze as you leave our office. You will receive special instructions for post-procedural care and will schedule a post-op appointment a few weeks later.

Patient Benefits of LANAP® Protocol

Patients report the following benefit of laser therapy:

Reduced pain & sensitivity
Less bleeding and swelling
Less gum recession
Minimal downtime after treatment
Less chance of post-op infections
Healing that is faster and more comfortable than traditional gum surgery

Gum Disease Treatment in Central Pennsylvania

Here's What Patients Are Saying About their LANAP® Treatment

Several patients gave Dr. Fullem permission to share their story. One who had a single tooth treated with laser therapy and the other had half of the mouth treated.

Patient 1

This particular patient had one tooth that gave her pain for 3 months before visiting the PA Perio Center. After talking to a friend who referred her to Dr. Fullem, she decided to make an appointment.

She told me that she was nervous, but that Dr. Fullem was “very gentle and explains everything.”

Her thoughts about the procedure were that it was “a piece of cake” and that “it was nothing!” She mentioned that during the procedure she did not feel anything and that Dr. Fullem applied a bite block so that she would not have to hold her mouth open, which was helpful.

She said that the laser procedure treated one tooth that was periodontally involved and that the procedure was fast and painless. Immediately following the procedure, she went home and followed the after-care instructions. She was so glad to have no stitches!

She told me that the day after treatment, she did not even know anything had been done because she had no pain. In fact, she went on vacation 3 days after her laser treatment!

Patient 2

This patient talked to me after having one side of her mouth treated with the laser surgery protocol called LANAP®. She was scheduled to get the other side treated a week after our phone call.

This patient, who asked me to include her name, Tania, told me about her history of gum disease and that she had traditional gum surgery many years ago. Unfortunately, she came to Dr. Fullem because the disease was actively destroying her gums and jawbone again, which was putting her oral health and overall health at risk.

Although she knew she would probably need gum surgery again, she was hesitant because her previous surgical experience had been painful. She admitted to me that she has a low pain threshold and that most dental procedures are uncomfortable for her.

Even after Dr. Fullem explained the laser procedure, she was still nervous about pain but chose to schedule the treatment. As she told me, she was so glad she did because although she was expecting pain, it was nothing like she had experienced in the past.

She said the procedure was painless and that the post-operative experience was only a “dull pain for 3 or 4 days” and was totally different from the traditional surgery of her past, after which she was in “pain, swollen, and on the couch for days,” which had kept her from working after that first surgery experience.

Tania said that laser gum treatment is “totally different” from traditional surgery because recovery from laser treatment is fast and she was able to resume activities the next day! She told me that she only took ibuprofen, had one day of soreness, and had no swelling.

Tania was so excited to tell me not only how quickly she recovered, but also how quickly her gums recovered. She raved about how much better her treated side looked and was eager to get the other side treated.

The most important point that Tania wanted to make to me was that laser was so great for her because of the absence of pain. As a small business owner, she said that she cannot afford to be out of work for a week because of pain.

She stressed that being able to complete gum surgery with soreness instead of pain is a “big deal” and was why she wants others to know.

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About Your Doctor

Dr. C. Michael Fullem

DMD

Dr. C. Michael Fullem graduated from Miami University, Oxford in 2007. Dr. Fullem moved on to the University of Louisville, where he earned his Doctor of Medical Dentistry, followed by the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where he completed specialty training in Periodontics and Implant dentistry and received his certificate of Periodontics. Dr. Fullem is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Periodontology, the Pennsylvania Dental Association and the Harrisburg Area Dental Society.

Dr. Fullem is happily married to his wife Sarah. They reside in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania and have a son, Charlie, and a daughter, Harper, who brings so much joy to their lives.