LANAP stands for laser-assisted new attachment procedure, a minimally invasive alternative to traditional gum surgery for treating periodontal (gum) disease. Instead of cutting gum tissue with a scalpel and stitching it back together, LANAP uses a specialized laser to remove diseased tissue and bacteria while leaving healthy tissue intact. The procedure received FDA clearance in 2004 and is the only laser protocol cleared by the FDA specifically for regenerating the attachment between your gums, bone, and teeth.
How LANAP Treats Gum Disease
Gum disease creates pockets between your teeth and gums where bacteria thrive. As these pockets deepen, the infection breaks down the bone and connective tissue holding your teeth in place. Left untreated, teeth loosen and can eventually fall out. Traditional surgery addresses this by cutting the gums open, cleaning out infection, reshaping damaged bone, and suturing the tissue closed. LANAP takes a different approach.
The procedure uses a specific laser called the PerioLase MVP-7, which emits light at a 1064-nanometer wavelength. That wavelength is key: it selectively destroys the bacteria responsible for gum disease while passing through healthy tissue without damaging it. Research has shown the laser kills major periodontal pathogens at depths of 3 to 4 millimeters within tissue. Unlike other dental lasers, the PerioLase doesn’t need bacteria to be visibly pigmented to destroy them. It targets an invisible light-absorbing structure within the bacteria themselves.
After the laser removes the diseased tissue and bacteria from the pocket, the dentist uses ultrasonic instruments to clean tartar from the root surface. The laser is then used a second time at a different setting to form a stable blood clot that seals the pocket. This clot acts as a natural bandage, allowing the body to regenerate bone, connective tissue, and the layer of material that anchors teeth to bone. That regeneration is what makes LANAP unique. In 2016, the FDA cleared the PerioLase MVP-7 as the only device in medicine or dentistry shown to achieve true regeneration of this attachment system when the LANAP protocol is followed.
What the Procedure Feels Like
LANAP is performed under local anesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel pain during the procedure. Most patients have one side of the mouth treated per visit, with the second side done about a week later. Each session typically takes one to two hours. Because there’s no scalpel and no sutures, the experience is significantly less invasive than traditional gum surgery. Most people describe the sensation during treatment as mild pressure rather than discomfort.
Afterward, you can expect some soreness and minor swelling, but it’s considerably less than what follows conventional surgery. Most people return to normal activities within a day or two. Traditional gum surgery, by comparison, can require several days to weeks of recovery.
Recovery and Diet Restrictions
The most important part of LANAP recovery is protecting the blood clot that forms between your gums and teeth. That clot is the foundation for tissue regeneration, and disturbing it can compromise your results.
For the first three days, you’ll need to stick to a liquid-only diet. Anything you can blend and drink works: smoothies, protein shakes, broth-based soups. Don’t use a straw, because the suction can pull the clot loose. From days four through seven, you can move to soft, mushy foods like mashed potatoes, oatmeal, applesauce, eggs, yogurt, and fish. By the end of the first week through day ten, you can eat foods with the consistency of pasta, chicken, or steamed vegetables, and gradually return to your regular diet.
Even after ten days, healing is still ongoing. For the full first month, you’ll want to avoid anything hard, crunchy, or likely to get lodged under the gumline. That means no chips, nuts, raw vegetables, salads, gum, or meat that shreds easily. Seeds (including berries with seeds) are also off limits during recovery.
Who Is a Good Candidate
LANAP is designed for people with moderate to severe periodontal disease, specifically those with deep pockets around their teeth and measurable bone loss. It’s often recommended for patients who want to avoid traditional surgery, those who have medical conditions that make conventional surgery riskier (such as bleeding disorders or diabetes), or people taking blood-thinning medications. Because there’s no cutting and minimal bleeding, LANAP can be a safer option for patients who wouldn’t tolerate traditional surgical approaches well.
That said, LANAP isn’t appropriate for every situation. If you have mild gingivitis (the earliest stage of gum disease), a standard deep cleaning is usually sufficient. And if a tooth is already too far gone, with extensive bone loss and severe mobility, LANAP may not be able to save it. Only dentists trained and certified in the LANAP protocol using the PerioLase MVP-7 can perform the procedure, so availability depends on finding a provider with that specific certification.
How LANAP Compares to Traditional Surgery
Traditional osseous (bone) surgery has been the gold standard for advanced gum disease for decades, and it’s effective. But it comes with trade-offs. The gums are cut and pulled back, diseased bone is reshaped, and tissue is sutured closed. This often leads to gum recession, meaning your teeth may look longer afterward. Recovery involves more pain, more swelling, and a longer timeline before you feel normal again.
LANAP preserves more of the existing gum tissue because it doesn’t require cutting. This means less recession and a more natural-looking result. The laser also stimulates the bone and tissue to regenerate rather than simply removing what’s damaged. Both approaches aim to reduce pocket depth and restore gum health, but LANAP tends to achieve these outcomes with faster healing and less post-operative discomfort. The trade-off is that LANAP is a newer technique with a smaller (though growing) body of long-term research compared to traditional surgery.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
LANAP costs between $1,250 and $3,000 per quadrant of the mouth. Since your mouth is divided into four quadrants, full-mouth treatment runs between $5,000 and $12,000. The wide range depends on the severity of your gum disease, your geographic location, and the provider.
Most dental insurance plans cover periodontal treatment and will apply coverage to LANAP, typically paying 50% to 100% of the cost depending on your plan. Because periodontal disease is linked to systemic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes, some medical insurance plans may also provide partial coverage. It’s worth checking with both your dental and medical insurance before treatment to understand what’s covered.