What is LARiP? LARiP Ridge Preservation in New City, NY

What Is LARiP?

LARiP stands for Laser-Assisted Ridge Preservation, a technique used to preserve the jawbone ridge after tooth extraction. This advanced procedure prepares the extraction site for future dental implant placement. During the same visit as your tooth extraction, your periodontist uses a dental laser within the socket where the tooth roots were, then places bone graft material. The laser serves multiple functions to improve your body’s ability to heal into the grafted bone material.

The goal of LARiP is to stimulate healing after tooth extraction, producing the ideal height, width, and consistency of jawbone necessary for dental implant placement. Both the quality and quantity of jawbone around a dental implant are important for long-term implant success.

Which Patients Need Ridge Preservation?

The purpose of the bone in the upper and lower jaws is to surround and support the teeth. When teeth are not present, the bone resorbs or shrinks over time. It begins to shrink first in width, becoming narrow. If enough time passes, it will also shrink in height. This bone shrinkage can prevent dental implant restoration of missing teeth.

To counteract this bone shrinkage, your periodontist may recommend ridge preservation at the time of tooth extraction. LARiP involves placing a bone graft after preparing the extraction socket with a laser. This procedure stimulates healthy bone growth into the socket and prevents its collapse.

How Is LARiP Different Than Other Socket Preservation Grafts?

Many periodontists and oral surgeons place socket preservation grafts at the time of tooth extractions to fill in the extraction site and help maintain its width and height while the body heals. Adding the use of a dental laser provides several benefits over grafting alone.

Providing Disinfection for Your Extraction Site

The dental laser has a sterilization effect, killing bacteria present in the socket. Most teeth we extract have an infection present. The toxins produced by bacteria in these infections delay the healing process. By disinfecting the extraction socket with the laser, we remove that barrier to healing.

Initiating the Clotting Process

Our advanced dental laser has many different energy settings and performs different functions. One function is to initiate the clotting process. When blood begins to clot, it changes from a very runny consistency into a gel-like substance.

What Is Hemostasis?

Hemostasis means the bleeding stops while keeping all cells alive. It’s normal for any oral surgery procedure to cause bleeding. Bleeding is an essential part of the healing process. Our laser gives us the ability to control bleeding. We can allow bleeding for the appropriate amount of time to produce optimal healing and then stop it.

This is beneficial for patients with bleeding disorders or taking blood thinner medications. It also makes every patient more comfortable to leave the office without concern over prolonged bleeding.

What Can You Expect from LARiP?

You will not feel any pain during a LARiP procedure. After your periodontist removes the tooth, they will begin using the dental laser. You should not feel anything due to the numbing effect of local anesthetic. You will hear some minor buzzing or clicking sounds as the laser works. The placement of bone graft material requires only very light pressure, which you will not feel.

How Long Is Recovery from LARiP?

There are two phases of recovery from ridge preservation. The initial healing phase involves closure of gum tissue over the extraction socket. Typically, this takes three to six weeks. LARiP speeds healing, and closure can occur as early as two weeks. By following all post-operative instructions, you can ensure your fastest healing.

The underlying jawbone requires a longer healing period. The time necessary for integration of new bone into the jawbone varies by person. It also differs between the upper and lower jaws. Usually, the lower jaw heals more quickly than the upper jaw. The average healing time for bone is three to four months. Your periodontist will monitor this healing phase by taking periodic x-rays to confirm new bone growth.

Schedule Your LARiP Procedure at Rockland Dental Specialists

Rockland Dental Specialists offers advanced laser surgery alongside state-of-the-art dental care in the New City, NY area. Board-certified periodontist and implantologist Dr. Shalom Mintz, along with Dr. David Peto and our team of periodontists and implant specialists, bring you the best laser-assisted ridge preservation experience possible with more than 24 years of combined experience. They are passionate about helping patients maintain their overall oral health. Contact us today at 845-259-2500 to speak with one of our team members about the periodontal and implant services we offer, or book an appointment online here.