Advancing Periodontal Therapy with Laser-Assisted Regeneration

For periodontist David Wong, DDS, preserving natural dentition and delivering long-term periodontal health have always been the central goals of his practice. At Route 66 Dental Implants and Periodontics, Dr. Wong combines advanced treatment protocols with 21st century technology to provide care designed to achieve stable outcomes while improving the patient experience. Since opening in 2003, his referral-based practice now receives patients from more than 225 dentists annually.

“As a periodontist, it is my job to help people save their teeth and keep them healthy, stable, and functional,” he says. “I do this by implementing the best procedures and technology to provide long-term results and by providing a dental experience that patients actually look forward to.” Maintaining both clinical excellence and patient satisfaction remains central to his work. “The most important thing to me as a practitioner is to keep my patients happy and healthy with the best that periodontics can provide,” he says.

A key component of that philosophy has been the adoption of the LANAP® protocol, available only with the PerioLase® MVP-7™, a free-running pulsed Nd:YAG laser from Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc. Dr. Wong first implemented the protocol in 2006 after observing its potential to address many of the limitations associated with conventional periodontal surgery.

The LANAP protocol targets diseased tissue while preserving healthy tissue, and is the first and only FDA-cleared laser procedure with scientific histologic proof of true regeneration of the attachment apparatus, resulting in new cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone on a previously diseased root surface.

“I witnessed its results and early potential to effectively treat periodontal disease for patients in a less painful, non-invasive, and predictable way that was both cost and time efficient,” he says. At the time, he explains, many patients viewed traditional flap procedures as aggressive and intimidating. “I wanted to provide an experience that patients would say yes to because conventional surgeries in my practice were often viewed as painful, aggressive, and overly invasive.”

Over the past two decades, Dr. Wong has accumulated extensive clinical experience with the procedure. His practice has treated thousands of periodontal patients using the LANAP protocol, and he has carefully evaluated outcomes over time. “I collected data on my first 10 years of incorporating the LANAP protocol, and I discovered that my patients were keeping their teeth at a rate better than my patients I treated with conventional flap surgeries,” he says.

Patient acceptance also improved dramatically following the introduction of the laser-based therapy. Dr. Wong reports that acceptance rates for periodontal treatment increased from 68% to 92% once the LANAP protocol became a central part of his treatment offerings. At the same time, the number of patients who discontinued therapy during treatment declined significantly.

“The LANAP protocol addresses a lot of the fear people have with periodontal surgery because its ‘no cut, no sew’ approach is something that resonates with anxious patients,” he says. Many patients in his practice had previously undergone conventional periodontal surgery and frequently comment on the differences they experienced with the laser-based approach. According to Dr. Wong, they consistently report less postoperative discomfort, faster recovery, reduced root sensitivity, and minimal gingival recession.

Beyond patient comfort, the protocol has also influenced the way Dr. Wong coordinates care with other providers. Because the procedure does not involve traditional surgical incisions or sutures, he finds that it simplifies communication with both medical colleagues and referring dentists. “From a primary care physician perspective, we no longer have to worry about patients on blood thinners since there’s no cutting involved. This means fewer medical consults and having to modify patients’ medication schedules,” Dr. Wong says. For referring dentists, the reduced concern about post-operative gingival recession can make treatment planning more predictable. Wong also notes that the procedure generally requires less chair time and is less physically demanding compared with conventional periodontal surgery.

Although the technology and protocol are distinctive, Dr. Wong emphasizes that clinical planning for LANAP cases begins with the same diagnostic foundation used for traditional therapy. “Planning for LANAP is no different than planning for conventional periodontal surgery,” he says. “It all starts with a thorough examination and radiographs and patient education.” Once the diagnosis is established, the protocol involves full-mouth treatment of periodontal infection using the PerioLase MVP-7 followed by a structured maintenance program to support long-term stability. Dr. Wong also stresses the importance of considering occlusal factors, parafunction, and restorative considerations when planning therapy, noting that the protocol is part of a broader comprehensive periodontal strategy rather than a standalone intervention.

Dr. Wong also uses the PerioLase MVP-7 for the LAPIP™ protocol to treat peri-implantitis and save ailing and failing implants. In addition, the laser’s exclusive BLAST™ protocol for peri-implantitis and osseointegration is designed for long-term implant success.

Other applications include more than 100 value-added procedures—or VAPS™—such as extraction socket disinfection, ridge preservation, photobiomodulation, hemostasis, and depigmentation, as well as the treatment of TMJ disorders, hemangiomas, fibromas, and more.

According to Dr. Wong, this versatility allows the laser to play a role in many aspects of daily clinical practice while supporting both surgical and non-surgical periodontal care.

For clinicians interested in integrating the LANAP protocol into their practices, Dr. Wong emphasizes the importance of Millennium’s training program. Through the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry (IALD), the company provides a comprehensive curriculum that includes hands-on patient training as well as mentorship and ongoing professional support. Dr. Wong considers this component essential for developing clinical confidence. “The live patient training is invaluable and a vital part of training in LANAP,” he says. “It provides necessary feedback from instructors and hands-on experience that you just can’t get any-where else.” Beyond the formal training program, Dr. Wong notes that Millennium maintains a collaborative community of clinicians who share insights and clinical experiences. “When you join the LANAP group of dentists, you have just adopted a whole family of people who want to see you succeed,” he says.

After a full two decades of clinical use, Dr. Wong views the PerioLase MVP-7 as one of the most significant technological investments in his career. The combination of improved patient acceptance, strong clinical outcomes, and broad procedural versatility has made it a cornerstone of his practice. “As a periodontist with 20 years of experience with LANAP,” Dr. Wong says, “it is the best and longest-lasting piece of technology I have ever owned.”

Key Points

• The PerioLase® MVP-7™ laser is a 6-watt free-running variable pulsed Nd:YAG dental laser for periodontal and implant procedures. A built-in power meter enables optimal power output for patient safety and efficacy while joule counter confirms light dose to tissue.
• Only available with the PerioLase MVP-7, the LANAP® protocol is a minimally invasive “no cut, no sew” treatment for moderate to severe periodontal disease designed to remove infection and regenerate cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone.
• The laser is also used to perform the LAPIP™ protocol for the treatment of peri-implantitis, providing a minimally invasive option for addressing infection around dental implants.
• Additional applications include the exclusive BLAST protocol for long-term implant success and more than 100 value-added procedures—or VAPS™—including hard and soft-tissue applications.