LANAP Recovery: What to Expect in the Days and Months After Treatment

In traditional gum surgery, the gum is opened with a flap and closed with sutures, so recovery includes healing an incision. LANAP treats the pocket from within, with no traditional flap and typically no sutures. As a result, many patients return to ordinary activity within about a day.

“Ordinary activity” is not the same as “fully healed”, though. Beneath the gumline, the treated pockets and bone continue to heal for months, and protecting that process is what the aftercare instructions are for.

The anesthetic wears off over a few hours. Some tenderness or mild aching is common, and your periodontist will advise what to take for comfort. The treated gums may be slightly swollen, and minor oozing can occur. Plan to rest and eat gently that day.

The clot that forms at the top of each pocket at the end of the procedure helps seal it while healing begins, which is why you will be asked to avoid disturbing the treated areas.

Your written instructions will typically cover:

• Diet: which foods to choose, and for how long to avoid chewing on the treated areas
• Cleaning: when and how to brush and clean between the treated teeth, and any rinse to use
• What to avoid: habits that could disturb healing, such as smoking
• Activity: when to return to exercise
• Follow-up: when your first post-treatment check is scheduled

Some patients notice temporary tooth sensitivity or a change in how teeth feel as the gums tighten. Contact the office if you have increasing pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a fever.

Bone and attachment heal slowly. The FDA summary of the LANAP protocol describes regeneration assessed in human histology, and in the 2012 study by Nevins and colleagues those findings were evaluated nine months after treatment, in which 5 of 10 analyzed teeth showed some degree of regeneration. That timescale is a reminder that the full result of treatment takes time to judge.

During this period your periodontist will re-measure the pockets and decide when to begin regular periodontal maintenance. Measurements taken too early can be misleading, so follow the schedule you are given.

LANAP treats existing disease; it does not change the underlying tendency to develop periodontitis. Long-term stability depends on daily home care, regular periodontal maintenance visits, and managing risk factors.

Smoking is one of the most important. According to the CDC, about 62% of U.S. adults aged 30 or older who smoked had periodontitis in 2009–2014. Diabetes control matters too.

For the complete picture, read the LANAP guide or how LANAP compares with traditional surgery. Questions about your recovery? Call Sterling Periodontics at (310) 278-3666.