Washington dentists are looking into a Long Island gum doctor, a board certified periodontist who is marketing himself as the only periodontist fully trained and licensed to perform the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) which is used to treat gum disease. Dr. David R. Scharf expects LANAP to revolutionize gum surgery the way Lasik did for refractive eye surgery.

According to Dr. Scharf, LANAP represents a complete shift from the traditional cut-and-stitch surgery method.  The laser eliminates diseased tissue while preserving healthy gums so there is no need for sutures or scalpels and the discomfort is minimalized.  This procedure is ideal for people who are uneasy or downright afraid of seeing a dentist and as a result have gone much of their life without proper dental care.

Dentist D C states that traditional gum surgery, depending on the extent of the damage, could require as many as eight to 10 office visits, but with the LANAP method used to treat a comparable problem, it could take only two office visits.  Additionally, the cost is approximately the same or less ranging from $2,000-$9,000.

Having to disrupt a person’s life for 10 dental office visits, in addition to both the physical and mental pain an individual suffers, is worth having to spend a little more money and less time to have their gums repaired by a new procedure that has been proven to work.

The American Academy of Periondotology has yet to endorse the LANAP method but does recognize that many of the periodontists are using this new procedure instead of the cut-and-stitch technique.  Dr. Scharf stated that some organizations are simply slow to adopt new technology; however he is confident that the American Academy of Periondotology will be studying the new procedure closely and soon all periodontists will be abandoning the cut-and-stitch method.

According to a statement by the American Academy of Periondotology, Dr. David Cochran stated, “There is insufficient evidence to suggest that any specific laser wavelength is superior to the traditional treatment methods of the common periodontal diseases.” 

A Washington DC dentist could supervise or perform various teeth whitening procedures or recommend over-the-counter whitening products that could be purchased through supermarkets and drugstores at a more reasonable cost.  However, the dentist warns that over-the-counter teeth whitening products do not last as long as the teeth whitening dental procedures performed in a dental office will.

Ultimately, what is best for an individual in terms of whitening their teeth depends on the type of discoloration and the amount of time and money they are willing to spend.  There are two main types of teeth whitening products, some primarily whitening toothpaste which removes surface stains by polishing with a mild abrasive or a chemical agent. These do not alter the tooth’s natural color and can only lighten its appearance slightly.

The other types of teeth whitening products contain a peroxide bleaching agent of either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.  These bleaching agents change the color of the tooth and could lighten it by several shades, according to a Washington dentist.

The American Dental Association (ADA) advocates for people to check with their dentist before using any bleaching products, even over-the-counter applications.  People with sensitive teeth could have a gum reaction or feel very uncomfortable during the bleaching process.  In addition, most products containing bleach will only bleach natural tooth enamel, so if you have a tooth-colored veneer, crown, feelings or partial dentures, bleaching may give an individual’s smile uneven results.

Washington dentists could evaluate and individual’s teeth to see if bleaching is right for their teeth, since discoloration of different kinds responds to different whitening products differently.  There are many examples of different types of tooth discoloration, some from the tar of smoking, stains from drinking soda, tea and coffee in addition to staining from age or medications.

Within an in-office bleaching technique, a dentist will use a rubber shield or a neutralizing gel over a patient’s gums to protect them. Then the dentist applies the peroxide bleaching solution to the teeth and exposes them to a bright light or laser to hurry along the whitening process.  This is one of the main reasons why a dental teeth whitening procedure works better then the over the counter products.