Your teeth do not loosen overnight. Gum disease is a gradual process — one that quietly erodes the bone and tissue holding your teeth in place, often for years before patients realize how far it has progressed. By the time symptoms like persistent bleeding, gum recession, or noticeable tooth movement appear, the infection has typically moved well beneath the gumline and into the supporting structures that no routine cleaning can reach. The good news is that a highly effective treatment exists that does not require cutting, stitches, or an extended recovery: LANAP® Laser Gum Therapy.
New Brunswick residents have access to this advanced approach at Middlesex Periodontics & Dental Implants, PC, serving patients throughout the New Brunswick area from our East Brunswick office. Our New Brunswick periodontist, Dr. Daniel Reich, is a board-certified periodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology who has provided advanced periodontal care for decades. Our practice offers LANAP® Laser Gum Surgery with no referral required, and same-day emergency appointments are available for patients who need prompt attention.
Most people associate gum surgery with a difficult experience — an image of cutting, stitching, and a week or more of swollen, tender gums. That picture comes from traditional osseous surgery, which remains a legitimate treatment for severe periodontitis but carries real recovery demands. LANAP® Laser Gum Therapy operates on a fundamentally different principle.
Instead of removing tissue with surgical instruments, LANAP uses the PerioLase® MVP-7™, a free-running pulsed Nd:YAG laser, to access the infected space between the tooth and gum. The laser’s specific wavelength is calibrated to identify and eliminate diseased tissue and harmful bacteria while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact. The American Academy of Periodontology recognizes laser treatment as an option for periodontal disease, noting that wavelength and power settings must be matched precisely to the procedure — which is exactly what the LANAP protocol is designed around. The result is a procedure that addresses deep infection with a level of tissue selectivity that conventional surgery simply cannot replicate.
Periodontal disease does not stay confined to the mouth. Decades of research have established links between untreated periodontitis and a range of systemic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes complications, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. For New Brunswick patients managing chronic health conditions alongside gum disease, choosing a treatment that minimizes surgical trauma and supports faster healing is not just a matter of comfort — it can be a genuinely important health consideration.
LANAP is particularly well-suited for patients whose medical histories make conventional gum surgery a higher-risk option. Individuals who take anticoagulant medications, those managing blood sugar irregularities, or patients with compromised healing capacity often find that the minimally invasive nature of LANAP makes treatment both safer and more manageable than going the traditional surgical route.
Every LANAP case begins with a detailed periodontal evaluation. Dr. Reich measures the depth of each pocket around every tooth, reviews full-mouth X-rays to assess bone levels, and takes a thorough health history before making any treatment recommendation. This initial picture determines the severity of disease in each area of the mouth and guides how the laser treatment is precisely applied.
Treatment is divided into two appointments scheduled one to two weeks apart, with each session covering one side of the mouth. Local anesthesia is used throughout for comfort. A thin laser fiber is guided gently into the periodontal pocket alongside the tooth root. Working from the bottom of the pocket upward, the laser removes infected tissue and kills the bacteria responsible for the disease. Because the laser distinguishes between healthy and diseased cells, the surrounding gum tissue is preserved rather than cut away.
After the pocket has been cleared, the laser is used at a lower setting to stimulate the formation of a fibrin blood clot at the base of the treated area. This clot seals the pocket and acts as a scaffold that supports the body’s natural regenerative processes — including new bone formation and the regrowth of the connective tissue that attaches the gum to the root. This regenerative dimension is what distinguishes LANAP from treatments that simply remove disease without encouraging structural recovery.
For patients with advanced periodontitis, two surgical paths exist: LANAP and traditional osseous surgery. Osseous surgery involves cutting back and reflecting the gum tissue, physically removing infected tissue and reshaping bone, and then suturing everything back into position. It is an established procedure with a long track record, but it comes with a recovery period of a week or more, dietary restrictions, and postoperative discomfort that many patients find significant.
LANAP achieves comparable outcomes for appropriate candidates through a far less invasive means. There is no cutting, no reflected tissue, and no sutures. Most patients describe the recovery as mild, with some sensitivity and soreness that resolves within a day or two. For patients who have put off necessary gum disease treatment because they are concerned about surgical recovery, LANAP removes that barrier without compromising the quality of care.
Recovery following LANAP is generally straightforward. Patients are provided with detailed post-treatment instructions covering dietary modifications, oral hygiene adjustments, and what to watch for during healing. Most return to their normal schedule the day after each appointment, though high-impact physical activity and hard or crunchy foods are typically restricted for a brief period.
The weeks and months that follow are when the results of LANAP become visible. Pocket depths typically decrease as the tissue heals and reattaches to the tooth root. Consistent periodontal maintenance visits are critical during this phase, allowing Dr. Reich to monitor healing progress, track pocket depth reductions, and keep bacteria levels from resurging. Patients who commit to their follow-up schedule and maintain strong home care routines consistently achieve the best long-term results.
The following signs often indicate that gum disease may have progressed to the point where LANAP or another advanced treatment should be considered:
Any of these symptoms warrants an evaluation, and many patients find that periodontal gum disease treatment prevents significantly more complex problems down the road.
At Middlesex Periodontics & Dental Implants, PC, New Brunswick patients receive care led by Dr. Daniel Reich, whose credentials span clinical practice, academic leadership, and research. Dr. Reich earned his D.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, completed a research fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center, and trained in periodontics at SUNY Stony Brook. He currently serves as Director and Associate Professor of Periodontics at Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College — a role that keeps his clinical approach aligned with the latest evidence in periodontal care. LANAP® Laser Gum Therapy starts at $2,500 per quadrant, and Cherry Financing is available to help make treatment accessible for patients who are ready to address their gum health.
Call us at 732-257-7300 or contact our office to schedule your consultation with Middlesex Periodontics & Dental Implants, PC. If you are in New Brunswick, Highland Park, or anywhere in the surrounding area, we are ready to help you reclaim your gum health with a treatment built on precision, minimal recovery, and lasting results.
Dr. Daniel Reich is a board-certified periodontist with over 30 years of specialized experience in periodontal care and dental implantology. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, he brings advanced expertise to every procedure at Middlesex Periodontics & Dental Implants. Dr. Reich earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and completed his Specialty Certificate in Periodontics at SUNY Stony Brook. He currently serves as Director and Associate Professor of Periodontics at Yeshiva University College of Dental Medicine, where he trains future dental specialists while staying at the forefront of the latest periodontal techniques and technology.
We make quality periodontal care affordable with flexible payment options.
We participate with Delta Dental Premier and Cigna PPO and work with many dental PPO plans. We files claims on your behalf and provides benefit estimates before treatment.
We offer financing through Cherry Financing and other trusted partners, allowing you to break down treatment costs into manageable monthly payments that fit your budget.
Questions? Call us at 732-257-7300 to discuss your insurance coverage and financing options.
Looking for an experienced periodontist in East Brunswick, NJ? Dr. Daniel Reich and our team at Middlesex Periodontics & Dental Implants provide expert periodontal care and dental implant services to patients throughout Middlesex County, including Monroe Township, Old Bridge, Sayreville, and surrounding communities.
We serve patients from East Brunswick, Monroe Township, Old Bridge, Sayreville, South River, Spotswood, and throughout Central New Jersey. Our office schedules most appointments within 10 days, and we offer same-day emergency appointments when available. No referral needed—you can schedule directly with our board-certified periodontist.
We’re dedicated to providing expert periodontal care and dental implant services in a comfortable, welcoming environment. Our advanced technology, experienced team, and patient-centered approach make achieving optimal oral health easier than ever. From gum disease treatment to dental implants, we’re here to help you achieve your healthiest smile.
Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
The content on this website has been reviewed by Dr. Daniel Reich for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Treatment outcomes vary based on individual needs. Contact our East Brunswick office for personalized care or dental emergencies.
