Introducing the GentleWave Procedure for Improved Root Canals

When you have an infection due to bad teeth, you might need a root canal to treat this problem and prevent bacteria from spreading. Root canal therapy is traditionally an invasive procedure that can cause pain afterward. However, a new form of treatment provides a minimally invasive approach with little to no pain and speedier healing. This new treatment, known as the GentleWave Procedure, offers improved outcomes for complex root canal cases.

What Is a GentleWave Root Canal?

This type of root canal therapy involves the use of fluids and multisonic energy waves to eliminate bacteria and infected pulp from tooth interiors. This approach offers more thorough cleaning and a reduced risk of having infections occur again. GentleWave can help treat difficult tooth infections that require root canal therapy. Knowing more about this procedure, including the steps involved, can help you understand what to expect.

What Happens During the GentleWave Procedure?

The GentleWave procedure involves sending multiple sound or acoustic frequencies through tooth interiors. The energy from these frequencies causes debris to become loose. Optimized procedure fluids then run through the tooth and pick up loosened debris. This debris and procedure fluids are directed to an outflow port, where they’re vacuumed out of the tooth. Do fluids and debris get into the tissue around the treated teeth? GentleWave’s technology results in negative pressure on the root end, which keeps fluids and debris in the tooth as they move toward the outflow port.

How Does the GentleWave Procedure Differ from Standard Root Canal Therapy?

Standard root canals involve manual instruments that physically remove infected material from the tooth’s root canal system. This is an invasive method of cleaning and disinfecting teeth, which can cause discomfort during the procedure and lingering pain afterward. The healing process is also slower for invasive root canal procedures.

The GentleWave Procedure doesn’t involve physically cleaning out infected teeth. Instead, sonic energy and fluids take care of the elimination process. This minimally invasive approach provides a more gentle experience, improved cleaning, and a shorter amount of time to fully heal.

Benefits of GentleWave

The GentleWave Procedure allows our endodontist to perform root canal therapy that offers several advantages. Undergoing this procedure for a tooth infection or abscess comes with all of the following benefits.

Thorough Cleaning

GentleWave is able to reach areas of the root canal system that are remote or small. This results in superior cleaning that helps ensure bacteria and debris are fully removed. This reduces the risk of having infections continue or come back.

Increased Comfort

This minimally invasive procedure is more comfortable for patients compared to standard root canals. GentleWave causes mild pain or no pain during the procedure and afterward as the tooth heals.

Natural Teeth Preservation

The GentleWave Procedure helps promote the preservation of dentin inside teeth. This results in natural teeth that are strong and able to maintain their structural integrity.

One Visit Required

Standard root canals sometimes require more than one visit to complete. However, GentleWave usually only requires a single visit.

Protects Surrounding Tissue from Irritation

Since fluids and debris are confined in the root canal system during the procedure, there’s a lower risk of irritation and damage to surrounding tissue.

Low Risk of Reinfections or Retreatment

The GentleWave Procedure ends with the clean and disinfected root canal system being filled and sealed. Since this procedure offer enhanced cleaning of the entire root canal system, including hard-to-reach areas, there’s a lower risk of retreatment and reinfections.

Am I a Good Candidate for the GentleWave Procedure?

Despite the advantages of GentleWave, not everyone is a good candidate for this type of root canal. The GentleWave Procedure is ideal for patients who need to have complex or challenging root canals done. This depends on the patient’s dental anatomy, infection location, and type of tooth. This minimally invasive procedure is also suitable for patients who have a busy schedule. Since only one visit is usually needed, these patients don’t have to take time out of their schedule for multiple visits. Other patients who can benefit from this procedure include those who have had a standard root canal done before and need retreatment. Patients who develop another root canal system infection after having a previous root canal done are also suitable candidates. GentleWave might be a good option for first-time patients who are afraid of the pain associated with standard root canal therapy.

If you would like to learn more about GentleWave, please contact Largo Endodontics. We can provide you with additional information about this high-tech cleaning procedure. If you have a bad tooth or abscess that might require root canal therapy, schedule an appointment with our endodontist, Dr. Ernest Rillman. Dr. Rillman can help you determine if GentleWave is right for you or recommend other options.