Skip to main content

Forget floss, this dental procedure rejuvenates your teeth with a laser

From original uses of virtual reality to revolutionary automatic toothbrushes, there is a whole lot of intriguing innovation going on right now in dentistry. One more to add to the mix is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved technique which its creator claims makes dentistry less invasive — and a whole lot less painful, too.

Referred to as the Laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) protocol, which makes it sound a bit like a 1970s espionage thriller, the technique involves using a dental laser cutter to remove diseased tissue between the teeth and the gums; killing germs that cause gum infections and leaving the healthy tissue intact and unharmed. That is especially important since gum disease is increasingly linked to systemic diseases including heart disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and more. Despite this — and despite 80 percent of U.S. adults suffering from some degree of gum disease — only three percent will accept the current treatment.

Recommended Videos

“Initially, we wanted to give patients hope for hopeless teeth — which then grew into salvation for these teeth,” Robert Gregg II, DDS, one of the dentists behind the technique, told Digital Trends. “Patients were ecstatic to keep their teeth. This need then led to the development of a protocol that would help ‘garden variety’ gum disease, as well as the most severe cases. After 10 years of research and studies to prove efficacy, patients who want to keep their teeth and refuse traditional osseous surgery have another option: A no cut, no sew, no fear-treatment approach.”

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The idea of having a laser designed for cutting shone around your mouth may not seem like a recipe for no fear, but patients who have undergone LANAP surgery report experiencing very little in the way of discomfort. The technique eliminates the need for periodontal surgery, a highly invasive and often painful procedure which involves reshaping the gums to restore and regenerate normal form and function to the parts of the mouth which support the teeth. The majority of patients who undergo the LANAP surgery require no opioid level prescriptions afterward, experience faster healing times, and are even able to drive themselves home following the procedure.

We still cannot say that we’re excited about visiting the dentist, but maybe we’re not dreading it as much as we were before.

Luke Dormehl
I'm a UK-based tech writer covering Cool Tech at Digital Trends. I've also written for Fast Company, Wired, the Guardian…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more