LANAP® Treatment

Patient Instructions following LANAP® Treatment:

  1. Do not be alarmed with any color changes or appearance of gum tissue following laser therapy. Gum tissue can turn gray, yellow, red, blue, purple, and look ‘stringy’, all of which reflect a normal response to laser treatments.  
  2. Do not apply excessive tongue or cheek pressure to the treated area.
  3. Do not be alarmed if one of the following occurs:
  • Light bleeding
  • Slight swelling
  • Some soreness, tenderness, or tooth sensitivity
  • Medicinal taste from Peridex or Periogard (prescription mouth rinses)
  1.  Swelling may occur. To keep this at a minimum, gently place an ice pack on the outside of the face for 20 minutes each hour until you retire for sleep that night. Do not continue to use the ice bag beyond the day of surgery.
  2. Some oozing of blood may occur and will appear to be greatly exaggerated when it dissolves in saliva. Determine the area of your mouth where it is oozing and place pressure on this area. If you cannot locate the origin of bleeding, gently rinse your mouth with iced water and apply a wet tea bag to the general area.
  3. Please call the office so that we may render further treatment if any of the following occurs:
  • Prolonged or severe pain
  • Prolonged or excessive bleeding
  • Considerably elevated or persistent temperature (Fever)
  • Sores on the roof of your mouth (Blisters)
  1. If medication has been prescribed, please take them exactly as directed.  Antibiotic pills are prescribed – the entire bottle or prescription should be taken for the stated number of days/weeks. If you are not allergic to Motrin (ibuprofen – e.g., Advil, Nuprin), we will most likely prescribe it primarily to minimize tissue swelling and local inflammation that is a natural side effect of minor oral surgery. Motrin (ibuprofen) is also good to reduce post-operative pain and sensitivity. Motrin is also a non-narcotic and does not affect your ability to drive.  

*Never place aspirin directly on the tissue of a painful area*

  1. Reduce physical activity for several hours following the surgery to maximize healing.
  2. Try to keep your mouth as clean as possible to help the healing process.  Only brush and floss the untreated area of your mouth. Do not brush or floss the treated area for 7-10 days or as directed by your doctor. Please use Peridex/Periogard (prescription mouth rinse) during the time you are unable to brush.
  • No flossing or using an electronic toothbrush for 4 weeks.
  • No waterpik/jet flosser for 3 months.
  1. You will be on a liquid diet for 3 days and then on a ‘mushy’/soft food diet for 4 days. For the remainder of the month, you will be on a diet of smart food choices (see treatment diet instructions for details). It is especially important to maintain a good food and fluid intake schedule during healing. Try to eat soft but nutritious food such as eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, malts, ice cream, etc. until you can comfortably return to a normal diet. 

Please refer to the Post LANAP® Treatment Diet Instructions 

  1. When eating, do not chew on the side of your mouth that has been treated.
  2. Do not be alarmed that beginning 2 weeks after therapy and up to one year or more that the teeth may be sore or tender, which is a sign that the bone and ligaments around the teeth are regenerating and becoming firmer. This is a sign of healing, but also indicates the presence of a bite imbalance that may need to be adjusted.
  3. The appearance of ‘spaces’ between your teeth can result from a reduction of inflammation, swelling, and the removal of diseased tissue after the LANAP® treatment. These spaces usually fill in overtime. Again, bite adjustment is critical to making sure the teeth and the papilla (the gum between the teeth) are not traumatized and can regrow. 
  4. After you complete the program, follow-up and periodontal maintenance visits with dentists that are trained using the PerioLase laser and perform the LANAP® treatment are extremely important to preserve the work that has been done.  
  5. If you have been taken off blood thinners (Coumadin, Warfarin, etc.) or if your current medications have been altered at all due to your dental surgery, you must contact your physician ASAP to determine if and when you should resume your medications.  

*Delaying this telephone call could have potential life-threatening or other serious consequences*

  1. Any type of smoking and/or chewing tobacco will have an adverse effect on the progress of your healing and may cause the gum disease to reoccur after treatment.  If you smoke or chew tobacco, we HIGHLY recommend that you not do so while you are healing or ANYTIME after that.

Post-LANAP® Treatment Diet Instructions

  • FOR THE FIRST 3 DAYS – The first three days following laser therapy, follow only a liquid-like diet to allow healing. Anything that could be put into a blender to drink is ideal. The purpose of this is to protect the clot that is acting as a ‘band-aid’ between the gums and the teeth. Do not drink through a straw – This creates a vacuum in your mouth that can disturb the ‘band-aid’. Take daily vitamins. Avoid spicy foods during this period.  
  • THE NEXT 4-7 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT – For the next four days, eat food with a ‘mushy’ consistency such as those listed below.  *See Below*
  • 7-10 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT – Soft foods are now allowable. The time to start eating soft foods is dependent upon the loss of the white material that appeared around your teeth following the LANAP® treatment. You were introduced to this material by your periodontist or surgical assistant during your follow-up visit immediately following your initial treatment session. It was explained to you that you must leave this material alone until it naturally heals and disappears. Once the white material has disappeared, then soft foods can be introduced. Soft foods with the consistency of those such as pasta, fish, chicken, or steamed vegetables can be gradually added back into your diet.  
  • PLEASE REMEMBER – Even after 10 days, healing is not complete. The first month following treatment, you should continue to make smart food choices. Softer foods are better.  Please avoid any foods NOT listed below:

‘Mushy’ Diet Suggestions

  • DAILY VITAMINS!
  • Anything put through a food blender 
  • Cream of Wheat, Oatmeal, Malt-O-Meal Mashed Avocado, Applesauce
  • Mashed Potatoes or Baked Potatoes – OK with butter/sour cream 
  • Mashed Banana or any mashed/blended fruit except berries with seeds 
  • Broth or Creamed Soup
  • Mashed Steamed Vegetables – Mashed Yams, Baked Sweet Potato, or Butternut Squash
  • Cottage Cheese, Cream or Soft Cheese
  • Creamy Peanut Butter without solid pieces 
  • Eggs any style, with or without melted cheese – Omelets can have cheese and avocado
  • Jell-O, Pudding, Ice Cream, Yogurt
  • Milk Shakes/Smoothies * DO NOT blend with berries containing seeds 
  • Ensure, Slim fast nutritional drink

AVOID THE FOLLOWING:

  • Chewing Gum
  • Eating Candy, Cookies, Chips, Nuts
  • Anything Hard or Crunchy
  • Anything with Seeds or Hard Pieces (fruits, breads, etc.)
  • Meat that Shreds and Can Lodge under the Gums/Between the Teeth.
  • Raw Vegetables/Salad

If you have questions or concerns about your progress, please call our office at 717-972-0031.