Periolase (ENAP)

Q: Exactly what is Periolase?
A: Periolase is a newly patented procedure also known as “Laser ENAP.” ENAP stands for “Excisional New Attachment Procedure.” It’s an alternative treatment for moderate to advanced gum disease using lasers and fiber optics instead of cold steel and sutures.

Q: Why should people be excited about this new procedure?
A: There are several reasons:

• Because of the unique properties of laser light, we have the ability to dramatically reduce the pain, bleeding and swelling normally associated with conventional periodontal (gum) surgery.
• Laser fiber optics are able to reach the deep areas of diseased tissue without the need to cut the gums.
• Lasers have the ability to create near-sterility of the infected tissue, without damaging the surrounding structures of the bone and teeth.

Q: How long has this procedure been performed?
A: It has been performed for the past 14 years as an adjunctive or enhancement procedure, but has been used as a stand-alone technique for over eight years. It is approved by the FDA and ADA.

Q: How many dentists are doing this procedure?
A: Only a few hundred dentists have been trained and certified to perform laser ENAP. It was started in Southern California and, therefore, more dentists there are trained. Dr. McDaniel is the first in Dallas. There is a dentist in Clarksville, a couple in Arlington, and a dentist in San Angelo that we know about. Very recently a dentist in Lewisville started the training. Dentists all over the state are taking the training for this procedure. Soon it will be more available.

Q: What s the success rate of Periolase?
A: Five years of retrospective clinical studies show an 83% success rate at five years. This compares to a reported 95% failure rate with conventional gum surgery at five years. (This is Dr. Ray Yukna’s study.)

Q: Is the laser more expensive than traditional gum surgery?
A: Laser gum therapy is less expensive in both the short term and over time. First, it is a couple of hundred dollars less than scalpel gum surgery for the initial treatment sessions; and second, because the success rate is significantly higher with Periolase, patients will not need pretreatment on the massive scale they need with current periodontal methods. Many cases require only a one-time treatment. More severe cases may require more.

Q: Are there any university studies on Periolase?
A:

• UCLA is currently designing the protocols for a long-term, double-blind, randomized clinical study to compare conventional gum surgery to Laser ENAP. Other studies have been done over the years at different sites (namely University of Bristol, England, and the University of Texas at San Antonio), which demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of using the fiber-optic laser to clean the diseased gum pocket.
• Dr. Ray Yukna, a periodontist at the University Dental School in New Orleans, has studied this procedure for the past five years. He has reported that the Periolase provided superior results in side-by-side comparison to traditional surgery.