Case 2

“Any other ideas for treating this patient?”

By Lawrence Gelb, DDS

A 52 year old male presented with a periodontal abscess involving tooth #9 in December 2012. 9 mm probing depths were noted on the mesio-facial and direct –facial of this tooth. This was confirmed radiographically with gutta-percha points extending to the depths of the osseous defects. Orthodontic treatment, which had been initiated 2 years earlier, was now completed and the arch wire was present for the purpose of stabilization. LPT-Laser Periodontal Therapy was delayed until April 2013 because of the patient’s schedule. During the delay, antibiotics were prescribed twice until treatment was performed in April according to the standard protocol. The first post treatment radiograph was taken 5 months later in September, which showed dramatic bone regeneration. Again in January 2014, which was 9 months post treatment, another radiograph was taken as well as photos and the periodontal pockets were measured. Slight recession on the direct labial, is noted but most importantly the pocketing has been eliminated, replaced with a sulcus of minimal depth. Furthermore there is radiographic evidence of 7mm of vertical bone regeneration.

This case demonstrates that LANAP/LPT is more than just a minimally invasive alternative to conventional periodontal therapy. Conventional periodontal surgery with bone grafting or extraction with bone grafting in preparation for implant placement would have most likely resulted in an unsightly cosmetic deformity. So in fact, in this case and others which I have treated with major defects in the aesthetic zone, LANAP/LPT is more than just the preferred treatment choice but really the only treatment choice.

12/12/12

 

 

 

1/24/14

 

 

 

4/8/14