FDA-cleared laser gum disease treatment by board-certified periodontist Dr. Chanook David Ahn. No scalpel. No sutures. Proven bone regeneration. Located in the South Coast Metro area, serving Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, and Tustin.
LANAP stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. It is an FDA-cleared laser protocol that treats moderate to severe periodontal disease without cutting the gums or placing sutures. Developed over two decades of clinical research and refined through peer-reviewed studies, LANAP uses the PerioLase MVP-7 laser to selectively target and eliminate bacteria and diseased tissue while leaving healthy gum tissue completely intact.
What distinguishes LANAP from every other laser gum treatment on the market is its scientific validation. LANAP is the only laser periodontal therapy backed by human histological evidence demonstrating true regeneration: the formation of new bone, new cementum, and a new functional periodontal ligament around previously compromised teeth. This is not simply healing or repair. It is actual regeneration of the structures that periodontal disease has destroyed.
The PerioLase MVP-7 operates at a wavelength of 1064nm (Nd:YAG) that is selectively absorbed by melanin and hemoglobin present in diseased tissue and bacterial pathogens. Healthy tissue, which has a different molecular composition, does not absorb the laser energy at this wavelength. This selectivity allows the laser to achieve thorough debridement without the collateral tissue damage that is inherent in scalpel-based surgery, which is why LANAP patients experience dramatically less pain, swelling, and downtime.
The LANAP protocol follows a precise, standardized sequence that Dr. Ahn performs under local anesthesia:
Full-mouth LANAP is typically completed in two sessions, each lasting about two to three hours, with each session treating one side of the mouth. The sessions are scheduled one to two weeks apart. Patients with localized disease affecting only a few teeth may require a single session.
The Loft Dental Studio is located at 3151 Airway Ave, Suite F-103, in the South Coast Metro area of Costa Mesa. This location places us at the geographic center of Orange County's most populated corridor, where the borders of Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, and Tustin converge. Whether you live in Mesa Verde, Eastside Costa Mesa, College Park, or the South Coast Metro area itself, you are likely within a five to ten minute drive of our office.
Centrally Located: Our office in the South Coast Metro area sits at the intersection of five cities. We are directly adjacent to John Wayne Airport, one block from South Coast Plaza, and accessible via the 405, 55, and 73 freeways. Patients from Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, and Tustin all reach us in under 15 minutes.
LANAP requires specialized training that goes beyond a general dental license. Dr. Chanook David Ahn is a board-certified periodontist who completed his periodontal residency at Yale University. He holds additional certification on the PerioLase MVP-7 laser system, the specific instrument required to perform the LANAP protocol. Many general dentists in the Costa Mesa area offer various laser treatments for gum disease, but LANAP is a specific, trademarked protocol that requires both periodontal specialty training and PerioLase certification to perform correctly.
Every LANAP case at The Loft Dental Studio begins with comprehensive diagnostics that go far beyond a standard dental exam. Dr. Ahn uses CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) 3D imaging to evaluate bone loss in three dimensions, combined with full-mouth digital periodontal charting that records pocket depth measurements at six points around every tooth. This diagnostic precision allows him to map the exact extent of disease, plan treatment precisely, and track measurable improvements over time.
Dr. Ahn approaches every case with a philosophy of saving natural teeth whenever possible. If a tooth has a viable prognosis with LANAP treatment, he will recommend saving it rather than extracting it and placing an implant. This is important because some dental practices default to extraction and implant placement when advanced gum disease is present, even when the tooth could be saved. LANAP's ability to regenerate bone makes it possible to rescue teeth that many providers would consider hopeless.
The Loft Dental Studio accepts most major PPO dental insurance plans, including Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Our administrative team verifies your specific periodontal benefits before treatment begins, so you understand your coverage and out-of-pocket costs upfront. We also offer financing through CareCredit and accept FSA and HSA accounts.
Traditional osseous surgery (also called flap surgery) has been the standard treatment for moderate to severe periodontal disease for decades. It involves cutting the gums with a scalpel, folding back the tissue to access the roots and bone, removing diseased tissue and reshaping the bone, then suturing the gums closed. While effective at removing disease, this approach comes with significant drawbacks that LANAP eliminates.
For a detailed comparison, read our in-depth guide: LANAP vs. Traditional Gum Surgery: Which Is Right for You?
LANAP is appropriate for patients with moderate to severe periodontal disease characterized by pocket depths of 4mm or greater with bone loss confirmed on radiographic imaging. You may be a candidate if you:
LANAP is not appropriate for every case. Patients with minimal bone loss who respond well to non-surgical treatment (scaling and root planing) do not need LANAP. Patients with certain conditions affecting teeth beyond periodontal disease (severe decay, root fractures) may require different treatment. Dr. Ahn provides a thorough evaluation using CBCT 3D imaging and digital periodontal charting to determine whether LANAP is the right treatment for your specific situation, and he will give you an honest assessment of all your options.
Full-mouth LANAP treatment at The Loft Dental Studio typically costs between $4,000 and $8,000, depending on disease severity and the number of areas requiring treatment. Localized LANAP targeting a specific quadrant or a few teeth costs less. While LANAP may cost slightly more upfront than traditional surgery, patients save significantly on pain medication, time off work, and the follow-up appointments that traditional surgery requires.
Many PPO dental insurance plans cover LANAP under their periodontal surgery benefits, typically at 50 to 80 percent of the allowed amount. Coverage varies by plan, and some insurers classify LANAP differently in their fee schedules. Our administrative team contacts your insurance provider before treatment to verify your exact benefits and provide a written estimate of your out-of-pocket cost.
PPO Plans We Accept: Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
For patients who prefer to manage costs over time, we offer financing through CareCredit, which provides low-interest and interest-free payment plans. We also accept FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and HSA (Health Savings Account) funds, which allow you to pay for LANAP with pre-tax dollars.
When evaluating LANAP costs, consider the alternative: untreated periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Replacing a lost tooth with a single dental implant costs $3,000 to $5,500 at our practice. Full-mouth implant rehabilitation with All-on-4 costs $25,000 to $45,000 per arch. LANAP can save teeth that would otherwise need extraction, making it one of the most cost-effective investments in long-term oral health.
Find out if LANAP laser gum treatment can save your teeth and restore your gum health. Dr. Ahn provides honest, no-pressure evaluations.
Call (714) 549-7030Not all dentists and not all periodontists are qualified to perform LANAP. The procedure requires specialized training on the PerioLase MVP-7 laser system and a deep understanding of regenerative periodontal biology. Dr. Ahn's qualifications make him exceptionally suited for LANAP treatment in the Costa Mesa and Orange County area.
Dr. Ahn holds board certification from the American Board of Periodontology, a distinction earned by fewer than 40 percent of practicing periodontists. This certification requires passing rigorous written and oral examinations that test mastery of periodontal medicine, surgical technique, and implantology beyond what is required for a specialty license alone.
Dr. Ahn completed his periodontal residency at Yale University, one of the premier training programs in the country. His training emphasized evidence-based approaches to regenerative periodontal therapy, giving him a scientific foundation that informs every LANAP case he treats. He does not guess or estimate. He measures, plans, treats, and tracks results.
Dr. Ahn has completed the specialized training required to operate the PerioLase MVP-7 laser, the only laser approved for the LANAP protocol. This is not a generic diode laser or a CO2 laser repurposed for periodontal use. The PerioLase MVP-7 is a purpose-built Nd:YAG free-running pulsed laser with specific wavelength characteristics (1064nm) that are essential for the selective tissue interaction that makes LANAP effective.
In addition to LANAP, Dr. Ahn is certified in Wilckodontics (Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics), a technique that accelerates orthodontic treatment through controlled bone manipulation. This cross-disciplinary expertise reflects his commitment to staying at the forefront of periodontal science and technology.
The Loft Dental Studio maintains a perfect 5.0-star rating on Google with over 120 reviews. This rating reflects consistent clinical outcomes across all patients, including those treated with LANAP, dental implants, gum grafting, and other periodontal procedures.
Our South Coast Metro location makes The Loft Dental Studio one of the most accessible periodontal practices in Orange County. We are not in a remote corner of one city. We are at the geographic center where five cities meet, with three major freeways providing direct access from any direction.
We see patients from every Costa Mesa neighborhood, including South Coast Metro, Mesa Verde, Eastside Costa Mesa, College Park, Mesa del Mar, Westside Costa Mesa, and the neighborhoods near Costa Mesa Country Club. Most Costa Mesa residents reach our office in under ten minutes.
The Loft Dental Studio is located at 3151 Airway Ave, Suite F-103, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, in the Airway Business Center complex in the South Coast Metro area. We are directly adjacent to John Wayne Airport and one block east of South Coast Plaza. Free parking is available in the complex lot. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
From Mesa Verde / Westside Costa Mesa: Take Baker Street or Fairview Road south to the South Coast Metro area. Turn onto Airway Ave. The office is in the Airway Business Center on the right. Approximately 5-7 minutes.
From Eastside Costa Mesa / Newport Blvd area: Take Newport Blvd or Bristol Street north toward South Coast Plaza. Turn onto Airway Ave from Bristol Street. Approximately 5-8 minutes.
From College Park / OCC area: Take Fairview Road or Harbor Blvd south to the South Coast Metro area. Approximately 5 minutes.
LANAP recovery is one of the most significant advantages of the procedure over traditional surgery. Here is what Costa Mesa patients typically experience:
After the local anesthesia wears off, you may notice mild soreness in the treated area. This is manageable with over-the-counter ibuprofen. There is minimal swelling and very little bleeding. Most patients drive themselves home after treatment.
Soreness peaks and then begins to subside. You eat a soft diet to avoid disrupting the healing gum tissue. Most patients return to work the day after treatment. Avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy foods.
The gums begin to reattach to the tooth roots. Pockets start to reduce in depth. Continue with the soft diet and follow Dr. Ahn's post-operative care instructions. Avoid flossing the treated areas until cleared.
Bone regeneration begins. Follow-up appointments track pocket depth reduction and tissue healing. Most patients see measurable improvement in pocket depths within three months.
Full tissue maturation and bone regeneration continue. Post-treatment X-rays and CBCT imaging confirm the extent of bone regrowth. Maintenance cleanings (periodontal maintenance) are scheduled every three to four months to maintain results.
For a detailed day-by-day guide, read: LANAP Recovery Timeline: What to Expect
Dr. Chanook David Ahn at The Loft Dental Studio is a board-certified periodontist and Yale-trained specialist who performs LANAP laser gum treatment in Costa Mesa. He is certified on the PerioLase MVP-7 laser system and the practice maintains a 5.0-star Google rating with over 120 reviews. The office is located in the South Coast Metro area at 3151 Airway Ave, Suite F-103, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
Full-mouth LANAP treatment at The Loft Dental Studio typically ranges from $4,000 to $8,000, depending on the severity of gum disease and the number of areas requiring treatment. Localized treatment targeting specific teeth or a single quadrant costs less. Many PPO dental insurance plans cover a portion under periodontal surgery benefits. We accept Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, and offer financing through CareCredit.
For most patients with moderate to severe periodontal disease, LANAP offers significant advantages over traditional osseous surgery. LANAP uses no scalpel and no sutures, causes less pain and swelling, preserves healthy gum tissue, and allows most patients to return to normal activities within 24 hours. LANAP is also the only laser protocol with peer-reviewed evidence showing true periodontal regeneration. However, not every case is suitable for LANAP, and Dr. Ahn provides an honest assessment of all options.
Many PPO dental insurance plans cover LANAP under periodontal surgery benefits, typically at 50 to 80 percent. Coverage varies by plan. We accept most major PPO plans including Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Our team verifies your benefits before treatment so you know your exact out-of-pocket costs. Financing through CareCredit and FSA/HSA accounts are also accepted.
LANAP recovery is dramatically faster than traditional gum surgery. Most patients return to work and normal activities within 24 hours. Mild soreness lasting 2-3 days is manageable with over-the-counter ibuprofen. A soft diet is recommended for about two weeks. Full bone regeneration takes 6-12 months, during which time you continue your normal routine with periodic maintenance visits.
In many cases, yes. LANAP can save teeth that have been recommended for extraction due to advanced gum disease and bone loss. By eliminating bacteria and stimulating true bone regeneration, LANAP can stabilize loose teeth and restore supporting bone. Dr. Ahn evaluates every case using CBCT 3D imaging to determine which teeth have a viable prognosis with LANAP treatment.
The Loft Dental Studio in Costa Mesa provides LANAP treatment and is centrally located in the South Coast Metro area, at the intersection of Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, and Tustin. The office is within 10-15 minutes of most neighborhoods in these cities. Call (714) 549-7030 to schedule a periodontal evaluation.