Gentle Wave?

[Kns]

I’m scheduled to have a root canal using the Gentle Wave system at the end of the month. I’ve never had one with this, is there any different about the procedure or healing? Anything I need to know? I have had a long, painful journey over the past two years with pain, crowns, root canals, retreatments, constant pain/numbness, facial and jaw pain, and suggestions of trigeminal neuralgia or neuropathies. I was doing really well getting over my fears until all of this occurred (long story), but now my fear is of failed procedures and even more pain. Will this new system be better? Every two-part root canal procedure has given me terrifying stabbing, shock-like pain in between appointments. So I am already scared this time, but hoping the new Gentle Wave thing will help? Risks? Anyone have experience or know what I can expect? This is for tooth #13, upper left second premolar.

 

[Gordon]

It's a very new system. Initial results from it appear to be very promising, however the early results were obtained under very favourable conditions, specialist endodontists and equipment, so it might be less applicable to real world application.
The procedure is very similar from the patient's perspective,( going by the GentleWave website, I've never used it or seen it done), it appears from the studies I've read to give much reduced post-op pain than conventional endo. Can't see any difference in the risk from a standard endo but probably better result and less post op pain.

 

[Kns]

Thank you Gordon! Sure hoping it is!

 

[Gordon]

Please post back on how you get on, always nice to hear of new techniques

 

[Kns]

Please post back on how you get on, always nice to hear of new techniques

I will! Thanks!

 

[comfortdentist]

Like Gordon said it is new and it's designed to optimize the cleaning of a canal which is essential.
A friend of mine who is an endodontist uses it. It is a costly device to purchase and use.

 

[krlovesherkids777]

It sounds really interesting.

 

[Kns]

I’m finally getting around to posting about my experience with the Gentle Wave procedure. I have to say that it was the best experience I have had so far with a root canal. Some of the experience, from the patient side, is the same, especially at first. But there’s less filing and pressure. It seemed shorter, too. They ran the Gentle Wave system for 7-8 minutes, which is kind of boring. You lie there with your mouth open while fluids clean out your tooth, cycling through a hose. I don’t think this had to do with the Gentle Wave machine, but the endodontist said I was bleeding a lot from inflammation and they had to place a saline solution in my tooth multiple times for several minutes after cleaning out the tooth, waiting for the bleeding to stop before finishing the root canal. I had zero pain afterwards! This is the first time I didn’t need to take any acetaminophen after dental work. I’m so glad it was done in one procedure, too, because every time I have had two-part root canals with calcium hydroxide packed in the tooth between appointments, I have had *severe* pain (like electrical shocks and burning/stabbing/pressure like my tooth would explode on and off). I avoided that this time and it was painless! Highly recommend.

 

[kitkat]

Thanks for posting an update! This is very interesting to learn about!

 

[jk1211]

Never heard of this, only files. Very cool

 

[TKB1974]

I’ve had two root canals with the Gentle Wave system, and both procedures were wonderful! I’ve only had root canals with this procedure so I cannot speak to a “traditional” root canal experience. Both procedures took less than an hour from start to finish (upper and lower molars). My endodontist is a big believer in this procedure & said she feels that you have very little chance of missing a canal when Gentle Wave is used. You do have about a 5 minute (not totally positive if it’s exactly 5 min) timeframe when the Gentle Wave portion of the procedure is happening & it sorta sounds like an ultrasonic vibration/flushing happening. No pain or discomfort, just quick and easy (and maybe a little noisy). Overall, I loved it!