MDT aligned with AAP position statement on efforts to be made to save patient's natural dentition

Jun 21 2010

Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc. (MDT), pioneers of the patented LANAP^™ protocol for the treatment of gum disease and the manufacturer of the PerioLase® MVP-7™ digital dental laser, are aligned with the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) position statement that "efforts should be made to save a patient's natural dentition."

“recent scientific advances in regeneration have made restoring lost periodontal tissues more predictable”

MDT is in complete agreement with AAP that classifies surgical procedures such as tooth extraction and dental implant placement as last-resort techniques. The ideal is to provide treatment that offers a "clinically proven regenerative outcome" as well as one that allows clinicians to save previously "unsaveable" teeth—treatments such as MDT's own LANAP^™ protocol. While some contend that patients are dictating suboptimal treatment choices for the sake of comfort or convenience, LANAP^™ treatment stands out as a choice that offers preferred health benefits in addition to the comfort and convenience that boost patient compliance. It's all about the patient.

The AAP statement points out that, "recent scientific advances in regeneration have made restoring lost periodontal tissues more predictable," a clear bonus for patients with gum disease. It is the standard of care that dental professionals inform patients of all their treatment options, and the LANAP^™ protocol is well on its way to be part of that standard of care.

"At the heart of the matter, the LANAP^™ treatment's ability to build healthy bone and tissue lies at the core of its success," said Robert H. Gregg, DDS, President of Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc., and President of The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry." Few procedures exist in medicine that offer such win-win outcomes. In the case of LANAP^™ treatment, patients benefit from both the advanced capabilities of state-of-the-art lasers and the conservative protocol that favors the preservation of natural dentition."

In actuality, the LANAP^™ procedure was designed for this very reason. The PerioLase® MVP-7™ laser used to perform it offers two primary benefits. First, its preference for infected tissue and germs allows clinicians to destroy only diseased areas while preserving healthy tissue. Second, those clinicians trained in its use are able to stimulate the regeneration of native tissues.

The controversy that triggered AAP's statement occurred when the Dental Tribune publication published an opinion piece implying that periodontists are opting to perform extractions and invasive dental implant procedures due to patients' reluctance to comply with more beneficial treatment options. Here again, the LANAP^™ protocol demonstrates its benefits, as the minimally invasive treatment and the relatively easy recovery inspires positive patient response and high rates of compliance.

Evidence-based therapies that offer so many positive outcomes are rare and science is continuing to prove the clinical benefits of the LANAP^™ protocol for patients with all stages of gum disease, including the most severe. While it has not yet become the standard of care, the consistent reproduction of positive outcomes and additional university-based clinical research indicates that the standards will soon evolve to catch up with the science.

MDT continues its initiative of enabling doctors to practice a scientifically proven regenerative outcome in periodontal disease patients and supports AAP's recent statement underscoring the importance of such procedures.