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Laser Dentistry 

How Millennium Dental Technologies and the LANAP protocol went from skepticism to standard of care

There’s a famous saying often attributed to German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer: “All truth passes through three stages: first, it is ridiculed; second, it is violently opposed; and third, it is accepted as self-evident.”

The same may be true about laser dentistry. Once dismissed by skeptics three decades ago, laser dentistry has now become part of everyday clinical practice.

At the forefront of that movement is Millennium Dental Technologies Inc. (MDT), the developer of the LANAP protocol for the treatment of moderate to severe periodontal disease and the manufacturer of the PerioLase MVP-7 free-running pulsed Nd:YAG laser.


It’s all about the patient
MDT was founded by Robert H. Gregg II, DDS, in 1994. Delwin McCarthy, DDS, joined Robert Gregg’s dental practice and MDT the same year. They shared a fascination with how lasers could improve the treatment experience for patients.

“In the early days, our research was directed more toward hard tissue applications, including selective removal of hard and soft tissue for endodontic treatment,” says Robert Gregg, who continues to serve as president and chairman of the board. “Periodontics wasn’t even our primary focus at first. But that work ultimately led us to create an entirely new category: a minimally invasive surgical procedure for periodontal disease. We ended up focusing on the most severely infected teeth that most clinicians would consider ‘hopeless.’ This approach evolved into a specific protocol for moderate to severe gum disease that proved to be as effective—or even more effective—than conventional surgery, and far more acceptable to patients.”

That breakthrough became the LANAP protocol, available only with the PerioLase MVP-7. The LANAP (laser-assisted new attachment procedure) protocol reduces harmful bacteria while preserving healthy tissue, giving patients a more comfortable, less invasive experience and a faster recovery compared with traditional osseous surgery.

“We were initially dismissed because we only had anecdotal case reports, no university studies and no FDA clearance,” recalls Robert Gregg. “It took many years to overcome objections and resistance. It took a steady effort of science and research over two decades before human histology proved the Holy Grail of healing events: true periodontal regeneration.”1

The company, along with the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry (IALD), sponsored two human histology studies—considered the highest level of scientific evidence—to demonstrate true bone and periodontal regeneration.2,3 The IALD also sponsored a large multicenter, university-based, prospective clinical translation study, which confirmed the application of the LANAP protocol in private clinical practice.

In 2016, these studies culminated in the LANAP protocol achieving the world’s first and only FDA clearance with scientific proof of true regeneration of the periodontal attachment apparatus including new cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone on a previously diseased root surface.4

Clinical and scientific evidence for the LANAP protocol and other dental laser procedures now includes more than 650 positive patient outcomes published in independent and human histology studies.

The company also has six active U.S. patents for dental laser technology and procedures, and adoption has increased significantly among dental specialists and general practitioners alike.


Not all lasers are created equal
Despite widespread adoption of laser dentistry, misconceptions persist since not all lasers are the same. “The idea of an all-tissue laser is a myth,” Robert Gregg explains. “Depending on wavelength, there are different tissue interactions. For example, erbium and CO2 lasers have shallow penetration in soft tissue, while diodes create broad thermal effects and lack selectivity in tissue removal. That limits their efficacy for certain clinical procedures.”

Specifically engineered for the LANAP protocol and other procedures, the PerioLase MVP-7 is a 6-watt, free-running variable-pulsed Nd:YAG dental laser with unique parameters, software algorithms, and seven pulse durations to effectively treat periodontal disease and regenerate bone and tissue damaged by periodontitis.

A built-in power meter enables the clinician to validate the power output for patient safety and efficacy while the joule counter confirms the light dose to tissue.

The laser’s unique features allow clinicians to safely and efficiently perform the LANAP protocol, as well as dozens of other procedures, including saving ailing and failing dental implants.


Reversing the failing implant epidemic
While the number of implant procedures is growing by approximately 500,000 each year,5 that growth is accompanied by a substantial increase in complications and failures because of peri-implantitis. Studies estimate that as many as 56% of implant patients will experience peri-implantitis.6

Built on the foundation of the LANAP protocol, MDT’s patented LAPIP (laser-assisted peri-implant procedure) protocol aims to reverse this growing epidemic. A retrospective cohort study found that 94% of failing implants treated with the LAPIP protocol using the PerioLase MVP-7 reintegrated in the pocket.7

Meanwhile, the company’s BLAST protocol is designed for peri-implantitis and implant osseointegration.

In addition, the PerioLase MVP-7 performs more than 100 value-added procedures, including extraction socket disinfection, ridge preservation, photobiomodulation, hemostasis, and depigmentation, as well as the treatment of TMJ disorders, hemangiomas, fibromas, and more.


A legacy of training
MDT goes beyond technology, ensuring every clinician is fully trained to deliver predictable outcomes with the LANAP protocol and other dental laser procedures.

LANAP clinicians participate in a five-day training continuum, which includes both didactic lecture and hands-on, live-patient treatment under the supervision of certified instructors. Training is provided by the IALD, an ADA CERP- and AGD PACE-recognized provider and nonprofit research organization founded in 1999.

“The goal of the institute is to provide proper and thorough education to doctors purchasing the PerioLase MVP-7 for the LANAP protocol and other procedures,” says Dawn M. Gregg, DDS, vice president of operations and board member at MDT and training director at the IALD. “No laser is ever shipped until the dentist has successfully passed our initial three-day Laser BootCamp with live patient training and a standard proficiency exam.”

Six months after completing Laser BootCamp, doctors return for an additional day of training with live patients for expanded proficiency certification. The full continuum of LANAP education is completed at 12 months with a fifth and final day of training—again with live patients.

“The five-day training continuum is included in the purchase price of the PerioLase MVP-7 as part of a complete package,” notes Dawn Gregg. “Licensed LANAP clinicians also gain access to one-on-one mentorship with certified instructors throughout the year.”

The training continuum offers one more added value—and that’s to the surrounding community.

“For our live patient training, we recruit patients who may have limited access to health care services,” Dawn Gregg says. “Since its inception, the IALD has offered pro bono treatment to more than 1,500 patients, with total treatment valued at more than $15 million.”


High patient acceptance, higher profits
While patient acceptance can be a challenge for many dental procedures, 91.8% of patients prefer LANAP treatment compared with osseous surgery, and 92.1% of recall patients who previously had traditional surgery are more likely to accept the LANAP protocol.8

“Patient acceptance is significantly higher than other procedures,” Robert Gregg says. “LANAP clinicians also treat more patients in less time at a lower cost while achieving better tissue response and higher satisfaction ratings. Plus, it’s an extremely profitable procedure. I tell doctors that if they treat just one patient per month with the LANAP protocol, half the treatment more than covers their cost while the other half is pure profit.”


Guaranteed clinical results
MDT, through its collaboration with the IALD, stands behind its proposition that every clinician trained by the IALD in the LANAP protocol will successfully decrease pocket depth by 50% in every patient, every pocket, every time through regeneration, not amputation.

This is backed by a six-month, money-back clinical results guarantee not offered by any other company in the industry.

“Our clinical guarantee really sets us apart,” says Robert Gregg. “If clinicians are not able to reproduce the clinical results shown in training after taking Laser BootCamp and practicing the LANAP protocol for six months, we’ll refund the entire purchase price provided they return all materials and the PerioLase MVP-7 in good working order.”


Defining the category, setting the standard
For more than three decades, MDT has advanced the science and practice of laser dentistry. The LANAP protocol remains dentistry’s only true standalone full-mouth laser surgery, clinically and scientifically proven to reverse periodontitis with regeneration of bone, cementum, and periodontal ligament.

By pioneering this breakthrough, MDT not only defined an entirely new category—it continues to stand in a class of its own. With the PerioLase MVP-7 and a full suite of proven protocols supported by elite training, MDT sets the global standard for minimally invasive laser treatment. Above all, the company remains committed to one guiding principle: It’s all about the patient.

References
1. Kramer GM. “Surgical Alternatives in Regenerative Therapy of the Periodontium.” Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 1992;12(1):10-31.
2. Yukna RA, Carr RL, Evans GH. “Histologic Evaluation of an Nd:YAG Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure in Humans.” Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2007 Dec;27(6):577-87.
3. Nevins ML, Camelo M, Schupbach P, Kim SW, Kim DM, Nevins M. “Human Clinical and Histologic Evaluation of Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure.” Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2012 Oct;32(5):497-507.
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 510(k) Premarket Notification K151763, March 15, 2016.
5. American Academy of Implant Dentistry. “What Are Dental Implants? https://aaid-implant.org/what-are-dental-implants/. Accessed Sept. 30, 2025.
6. Zitzmann NU, Berglundh T. “Definition and Prevalence of Peri-Implant Diseases.” J Clin Periodontol. 2008;35(8 Suppl):286-91.
7. Schwarz GM, Harris DM. “Laser-Assisted Treatment of Peri-Implantitis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.” Gen Dent. 2020;68(3):18-25.
8. Richman C, Levine RA, Sullivan A, Jiang S, Farber A, Zalewsky J. “Perceptions of the LANAP Protocol.” Decis Dent. 2020;6(10):18, 21-23.

Elevate your clinical care
Discover how Millennium Dental Technologies and the LANAP protocol are advancing periodontal therapy—visit lanap.com for research, training information, and professional resources.
Laser Dentistry
This content is sponsored by Millennium Dental Technologies. For more information, visit lanap.com.
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