In old movies and TV shows, root canal treatment was portrayed as a painful procedure that you wanted to avoid at all costs. Fortunately, with modern dental techniques and technology, these portrayals aren’t true at all. Getting a root canal shouldn’t feel much different than getting a large dental filling. With GentleWave, patients can get the dental treatment they need even more comfortably and conveniently. Continue reading to learn more about GentleWave and how it compares to traditional root canal treatment.
GentleWave vs. Traditional Root Canal Treatment: What’s Different?
Root canal treatment has been in existence for a while now. It was completed for the first time in the 17th century by Edwin Maynard using a watch spring. Today, dentists use more advanced versions of this tooth, called “files” to access and clean out the pulp within the tooth. After cleaning and disinfecting the tooth, the dentist fills the tooth with a material that prevents the reinfection of the tooth.
Traditional root canals are supposed to last a lifetime, but it can be difficult to fully clean away all of the infected material from the cracks and crevices inside a tooth with flies. This means that there is a very small chance that repeat procedures are necessary in the future to save the tooth. This is where GentleWave differs. GentleWave uses ultra-cleaning technology instead of flies to reach into the microscopic spaces of the tooth and remove debris, bacteria, and tissue.
What Does a GentleWave Procedure Look Like?
Just like a traditional root canal, an opening is made in the tooth. Flies are used only to open a path to the root canal, so fewer flies are necessary to complete the procedure. Next, the endodontist uses a sterilized, single-use GentleWave instrument that delivers acoustic energy and fluids through the root canal. This loosens and rinses away the infected dental pulp and decay. The combination of both fluids and sound waves work together to remove debris from the spaces that standard root canal treatments and tools can’t reach. Then, the tooth is ready to be filled and sealed as normal.
Teeth treated with GentleWave are less likely to require root canal retreatment in the future. Patients also report that the procedure is comfortable, including those who have undergone root canal treatment before.
If you are in need of root canal treatment, you may want to consider GentleWave. This way, you can be comforted with permanent results.
About the Author
Dr. Deborah Bishop is an experienced endodontist who has been working in the field for several decades. She earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry. She is active in numerous professional organizations, including the American Dental Association, Alabama Dental Association, International Academy of Endodontics, and more! To learn more about GentleWave or to schedule an appointment at her office in Huntsville, visit her website or call (256) 882-5161.