LANAP protocol gets international recognition

Raymond Yukna, DMD, MS, presented clinical data to at the recent International Osteology Symposium in Cannes, France, that supports the efficacy of the laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) protocol in treating moderate to severe periodontitis.

The presentation also marked the first time that a university source has compiled a case series review of LANAP protocol results for the treatment of peri-implantitis, according to Millennium Dental Technologies, the company that developed and commercialized LANAP.

Dr. Yukna, a professor of advanced periodontal therapies at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, gathered data from a range of patients treated during the past several years. Dr. Yukna's poster, "Periodontal Bone Regeneration with an Nd:YAG Laser and the LANAP Protocol," illustrated radiographic and histologic bone regeneration evident following the LANAP treatment, Millennium noted.

Using pre- and post-treatment dental x-rays from patients treated for chronic periodontitis or peri-implantitis, Dr. Yukna's poster showed a consistent increase in bone support for both natural teeth and dental implants following the procedure, the company said.

"The accumulated research once again shows the LANAP technique to be a progressive approach to treating a major disease that threatens a large percentage of adults," Dr. Yukna said. "The data also supports the LANAP protocol as an effective treatment option for peri-implantitis -- another area where the technique could change the way dental professionals treat patients. The results demonstrate appreciable potential for both periodontal and peri-implant bone regeneration."

Yukna was the first research periodontist to use the LANAP protocol and is the project director for the LANAP protocol multicentered clinical study being performed at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, two other universities, and two private practices, Millennium noted.