If you know a handy person, chances are you may have heard an expression about the importance of having the right tool for the job. You wouldn’t use a wrench to hang a picture on the wall! Having the right tools for the job is just as important in endodontics and dentistry. Advances in endodontic technology make it easier for us to treat our patients.

State-of-the-art imaging and deep cleaning technology increase the likelihood of a successful root canal and relief from discomfort. Some patients who suffered failed root canals may have a more successful experience when treated by a skilled endodontist who uses the best tools available. That’s why we at Ballantyne Endodontics put so much emphasis on investing in the best endodontic technology. It’s all to ensure the highest quality care for you!

How The Right Technology Results in a Better Patient Experience

By using cutting-edge endodontic technology and up-to-date techniques, we aim to provide the patient a better healing experience.

For example, dental imaging is an area that has benefited from innovation. Sophisticated imaging technology makes it easier for your endodontic specialist to correctly identify the root of the infection and more effectively treat it.

Strategic use of dental technology gives endodontists the tools they need to deliver the best care possible. An endodontics team cleans and disinfects the infected tooth’s root system—which is very small and complex—during a root canal. New technologies make this process less invasive and more comfortable for the patient.

About Our Technology

At Ballantyne Endodontics, we use a holistic, patient-centered approach to save our patients’ natural teeth. After all, our motto is, “Give teeth a chance!” We use the following tools, which allow us to notice tiny (but important!) details in your mouth easily and focus exclusively on delivering the best care possible.

Some key technologies we use include the GentleWave® Procedure, Microscopic Endodontics, and 3D Cone Beam Imaging. Let’s take a tour of each.

GentleWave® Procedure

The GentleWave Procedure is a minimally invasive way to deep clean the inner tooth using fluid dynamics and broad-spectrum acoustic energy. It reaches microscopic spaces sometimes missed during a standard, traditional root canal.

Many patients experience a more thorough deep clean through GentleWave. Sometimes patients seeking a standard root canal may have to return to their dentist or endodontist for a second treatment. Since the GentleWave more easily reaches microscopic spaces, it often only requires one deep cleaning session.

We invested in GentleWave® Procedure because it enhances the comfort of our patients, improves the likelihood of a successful outcome, and in many cases, saves the patients time (and money) if we only need to see them for one deep cleaning session instead of two. Not to mention the more thorough cleaning can help save your teeth!

It is important to keep in mind that not everyone is a candidate for the GentleWave® Procedure. We will properly evaluate your case and determine if this procedure, or something different, is right for your unique treatment plan. 

Microscopic Endodontics

When examining and treating a damaged tooth, we work with a tiny yet complex area. Endodontists use microscopes to see those minuscule details and magnify beyond 25 times what the naked eye can see. By better seeing the inner tooth, we can better remove any sources of infection and disease.

Patients are often surprised to learn how complex the tooth’s root canal structure may be. Teeth may have one to three roots with as many as three canals in each root. All these roots and canals contain the pulp, and some canals are barely visible to the naken eye or lower magnification, almost like a very fine strand of hair. By enlarging the area, it is easier to detect unique anatomy and tiny variations. And that means the endodontist can perform a more thorough and effective root canal.

The American Association of Endodontists has promoted the use of microscopes in endodontics for a range of reasons. Leveraging microscopes allows endodontists to:

• Work in more ergonomically friendly ways both for the patient and the professional.
• Find hidden canals and other tiny details.
• Preserve more of the tooth structure.

3D Cone Beam Imaging

The 3D Cone Beam imaging system captures images of the teeth, jaw, and sinus areas with a much lower radiation dose than other CT imaging systems. It uses a fairly new technology involving a rotating gantry and X-ray source. The cone-shaped radiation beam produces 3D panoramic images during a single rotation.

All in all, our 3D Cone Beam results in a more comfortable experience for our patients, better information for us to work with, and a more efficient experience.

Medical providers use the Cone Beam technology to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Sleep apnea
• Bone fractures
• TMJ
• Undiagnosed dental pain
• Impacted teeth or to diagnose the need for an extraction or root canal

Traditional dental X-Rays can be very limiting, but the 3D capability allows us to see past the superimposed structures over the teeth and give a quicker and more accurate diagnosis.

Plus, the patient can sit comfortably while a dental professional takes the images. The imaging usually takes just a minute or two. In short, the benefits include:

• Faster access to high-quality images compared to traditional dental X-rays.
• Less exposure to radiation for the patient.
• Panoramic views of a variety of angles within the mouth, giving the endodontist an effective diagnostic tool.
• Quick, comfortable scanning.
• The ability to better strategize and plan treatment.
• The ability to see both soft tissues and bone.

It can also be used to help accurately place dental implants, and in planning for cosmetic dentistry to make your smile shine.

Next Steps: Finding A Skilled Endodontist

Of course, no tool or technology is a substitute for expertise. And that expertise comes from your endodontist, who is a dentist who completed the advanced study of root canals and related procedures.

At Ballantyne Endodontics, our endodontists and caring staff combine compassion, passion for saving natural teeth, years of experience, and accumulated expertise, with the best technology available.

If you live in the Charlotte area and need a root canal, please ask your dentist for a referral or contact us to schedule a consultation. We are here to save your teeth!