A History of Proven Efficacy

A tooth’s survivability is greatly reduced when there’s a crack at or near the level of its roots. In this case, tooth #31 was cracked with a diagnosis of pulpal necrosis and symptomatic apical periodontitis. Initial recommendation was tooth extraction, but the patient’s preference was to save the tooth. The GentleWave® Procedure was our best approach to preserve as much of the remaining structural integrity of the root. In a single visit and with minimal instrumentation, the GentleWave Procedure thoroughly cleaned and disinfected the root canal system to promote tooth healing.

"With minimal instrumentation, I was able to depend on the GentleWave® Procedure to thoroughly disinfect the root canal system. And for healing to occur in the presence of a crack is even more impressive."

At 6-month recall, the results are impressive. The patient is asymptomatic and showing excellent healing.

The patient presented with biting and palpation tenderness localized to tooth #19 with a draining sinus tract. Probing 12+ mm to the distal apex posed a prognosis challenge. The endo-perio lesion is a condition characterized by the association of periodontal and pulpal disease in the same dental element. Diagnosis, prognosis and treatment planning are complicated due to the influence of pulp pathology, which may cause periodontal involvement and vice versa.

Pulpal diagnosis was necrotic pulp with an apical diagnosis of chronic apical abscess. The GentleWave^® Procedure gave me the confidence to complete disinfection and finish treatment in a single visit. Re-evaluation in four weeks demonstrated resolution of the sinus tract and probing depths. At three months, this case demonstrated nearly complete osseous regeneration of previous low-density areas.

“The resolution of symptoms is one factor. However, the ‘early healing’ I am seeing in my practice with the GentleWave^® Procedure is extraordinary.”

A patient presented to our office with a complaint of swelling in the area of tooth #15. A sinus tract had been present for about one month. Upon examination, the tooth was diagnosed as necrotic pulp with chronic apical abscess. In a single visit, I was able to thoroughly clean and disinfect the tooth with the GentleWave^® Procedure. The tooth was obturated using AH Plus^® Sealer and warm vertical compaction of gutta-percha.

"The cleaning ability of the GentleWave^® Procedure allowed me to effectively clean exquisite anatomy and provide a result that I was unable to attain previously via traditional methods."

Six months post-op, the periradicular bone appeared to have completely healed. The patient resumed active orthodontic treatment. This case illustrates the power of a single-visit GentleWave® Procedure in effectively cleaning and disinfecting the root canal system and promoting rapid healing.

Does anatomy matter?

It’s one of the questions I considered when incorporating the GentleWave^® Procedure into my practice. When I obturated this case, treated with the GentleWave Procedure in a single visit, my initial excitement was certainly around the “crazy anatomy.”

The healing at two and ten months reiterates that anatomy does matter. Thorough cleaning and disinfection with minimal instrumentation, in a single visit and with these results, reminds me why I invested in the GentleWave^® Technology.

In my experience thus far with the GentleWave® Procedure, in a single visit, often, eye-catching accessory anatomy and lateral canals are revealed. This case reveals a striking lateral canal near the furcation and apical deltas with multiple portals of exit in the distal. The patient presented with tenderness to chew and hypersensitivity to cold. There was thickening of the PDL, and the pulp tested vital. A new crown had been placed six months prior. The day following the GentleWave Procedure, the patient was doing great and asymptomatic.

“Without the cleaning and disinfection of the GentleWave^® Procedure, the anatomy on this tooth might have remained hidden.”