When gum disease reaches a moderate or severe stage, the tissue and bone that hold your teeth in place are actively breaking down, and waiting rarely leads anywhere good. The challenge for many patients in Monroe Township is not knowing whether treatment has to mean scalpels, stitches, and weeks of discomfort — or whether a more comfortable path exists. LANAP® Laser Gum Therapy is that path: a minimally invasive, FDA-cleared protocol that treats periodontitis using a targeted laser rather than conventional surgical instruments, giving patients a way to address serious gum disease without the recovery that has historically made people hesitant to seek care.
Middlesex Periodontics & Dental Implants, PC, serves patients throughout Monroe Township and the surrounding Middlesex County communities from our East Brunswick office. Our Monroe Township periodontist, Dr. Daniel Reich, is a board-certified periodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology with decades of clinical experience providing advanced periodontal care, including LANAP® Laser Gum Surgery. No referral is needed to get started, and same-day emergency appointments are available for patients with urgent concerns.
Periodontitis is a bacterial infection of the structures that support your teeth, including the gums, the periodontal ligament, and the underlying bone. It develops when plaque accumulates along and below the gumline and the body’s inflammatory response begins destroying the very tissue it is trying to protect. Left untreated, it progresses — pockets deepen, bone recedes, and teeth that were once stable can become loose over time.
Early-stage gum disease, known as gingivitis, can often be reversed with a thorough cleaning and improved home care. Once periodontitis sets in, however, the infection has moved deeper than routine maintenance can reach, and a more targeted intervention becomes necessary. Periodontitis treatment is most effective when the full depth of the infected pocket is addressed, and that is precisely where LANAP excels.
LANAP — Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure — uses the PerioLase® MVP-7™, a free-running pulsed Nd:YAG laser, to access and treat periodontal pockets without surgical incisions. A laser fiber roughly the diameter of three human hairs is passed gently between the tooth and gum, where it destroys the bacteria driving the infection and removes the diseased tissue lining the pocket. Healthy tissue is largely undisturbed because the laser’s specific wavelength differentiates between diseased and healthy cells.
The American Academy of Periodontology notes that laser treatment has demonstrated results comparable to other non-surgical periodontal approaches, and that the wavelength and power settings of any laser must be appropriate to the procedure being performed. LANAP’s protocol is built around precisely those specifications, which is what makes it both effective and safe for treating periodontitis in clinical practice.
Before any laser treatment takes place, Dr. Reich performs a comprehensive periodontal evaluation. This includes probing each tooth’s pocket depth, reviewing radiographs to assess bone levels, and gathering a thorough medical and dental history. This assessment determines whether LANAP is the right approach for your specific degree of disease and informs every aspect of the treatment plan that follows.
LANAP is delivered in two appointments, each addressing one half of the mouth. Local anesthesia ensures you are comfortable throughout. The laser fiber is guided into the periodontal pocket alongside the tooth root, eliminating bacteria and removing the inflamed tissue that lines the pocket wall. This step is performed systematically around every affected tooth, clearing the infection from the ground up.
Once the pocket has been thoroughly cleared, the laser is applied at a different setting to create a stable blood clot at the base of the pocket. This clot acts as a biological seal, protecting the treated area and signaling the body to begin rebuilding lost bone and gum attachment. The regenerative potential of LANAP is one of its most clinically significant qualities — rather than simply managing the disease, the procedure creates conditions that allow the body to partially restore what periodontitis destroyed.
For patients with early to moderate periodontitis, scaling and root planing is often the first line of treatment. This deep-cleaning procedure removes bacterial deposits from below the gumline and smooths the root surface to make it harder for bacteria to reattach. It is an effective, non-surgical option that many patients respond to well.
When periodontitis is more advanced — when pockets are deeper, bone loss is more significant, or previous non-surgical treatment has not produced adequate results — LANAP steps in as the next level of care. It reaches areas and depths that scaling alone cannot fully address, and it does so without the tissue trauma of conventional gum surgery. Understanding where each treatment fits in the continuum of periodontal care is part of what guides Dr. Reich’s recommendations for each individual patient.
Because the laser does not cut into gum tissue, and because no sutures are placed, most patients tolerate LANAP recovery quite well. Mild soreness and some sensitivity in the treated areas are common in the first day or two following each appointment, but significant swelling or sharp pain is uncommon. Patients are given specific dietary and hygiene instructions to follow during the healing phase, and a follow-up visit is scheduled to evaluate the initial response.
In the weeks and months after treatment, the periodontal pockets typically begin to shrink as the tissue heals and reattaches to the tooth root. Bone regeneration, where it occurs, develops more gradually and is assessed at subsequent maintenance visits. Keeping up with those appointments is critical to protecting the investment LANAP makes in your gum health.
Monroe Township patients looking for a periodontist who offers LANAP laser gum surgery will find a highly credentialed and experienced provider at Middlesex Periodontics & Dental Implants, PC. Dr. Daniel Reich earned his D.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, completed his periodontal residency at SUNY Stony Brook, and currently serves as Director and Associate Professor of Periodontics at Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College. His academic and clinical background means every treatment recommendation is grounded in both research and real-world experience. LANAP® Laser Gum Therapy starts at $2,500 per quadrant, and Cherry Financing is available to make treatment more accessible for patients with gum disease who are ready to act.
Call us at 732-257-7300 or contact our office to schedule your consultation with Middlesex Periodontics & Dental Implants, PC. Whether you are in Monroe Township, Manalapan, or anywhere in the surrounding area, we welcome the opportunity to help you protect your teeth and restore your gum health through the most advanced periodontal care available.
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.
