Root canals have been a procedure feared by many for decades. Just hearing the term “root canal’ can send shivers down a patient’s spine. Whether you have a sore tooth and are worried about what may have to happen to fix it or have gone for a routine dental checkup and are told this procedure has to be done, the root canal is not a fun experience. In recent years, there have been technological developments to improve this type of dental procedure, making the entire process much less painful, and invasive. In this blog, I will discuss the advantages of having a PIPS™ root canal done.

What is PIPS™?

PIPS™ stands for “Photon Induced Photoacoustic Streaming”. It is a new form of endodontic (the treatment of tooth pain) technology that uses a revolutionary laser method for cleaning and debriding the root canal system. It is the first endodontics breakthrough in over 50 years and took 10 years to develop. PIPS™ treatment uses laser energy to agitate the irrigation solution inside a root canal system and causes a strong shockwave effect that can break down bacteria cells and remove biofilm.

PIPS™ effectively debrides and disinfects root canals by streaming irrigants three-dimensionally in the canals, making it easier to negotiate the critical apical one-third of the root canal system. To put it into Layman’s terms, the laser creates a shockwave that can easily penetrate the bacteria in a root canal, thus treating the infected tooth much more efficiently and safely in comparison to the traditional ways. 

What are the advantages of having a PIPS™ root canal?

There are many advantages to having a root canal done using PIPS™ laser technology. To start, this type of treatment method has been clinically proven to be more effective in killing and removing the harmful bacteria, biofilm and canal debris that cause infection in teeth. This strongly reduces the chances of re-infection later in life. The minimally invasive nature of PIPS™ preserves more tooth endoskeleton than traditional instrument techniques since filings can be limited to as small as ISO #20 file, thus maintaining more tooth strength. Since PIPS™ tips are never directly inserted into the canals, there is no risk of tip breakage or broken files from curved or narrow canals. There is also no unwanted apical extrusion of chemical irritants that are associated with other types of root canal treatment methods. This limits the amount of post-operative pain and discomfort for the patient. Overall, the PIPS™ root canal treatment is faster, safer, less painful and has a higher success rate long-term for patients.

Will a root canal-treated tooth be just as strong as my other teeth? Can it decay just as my other teeth can?

If a root canal has been well restored, either by a filling or a crown, then it should be as strong as your other teeth. Just like other teeth, a tooth that has had a root canal is subject to decay and the environment within your mouth. That is why having a PIPS™ root canal is so instrumental in improving the chances of sustaining the long-term strength of a treated tooth. Regardless,  it is important to follow up on your regular dental checkups to see if the root canal and the seal placed over the root canal maintain a proper seal. At Collingwood Dentistry, we specialize in laser dentistry, performed by Dr. Salyani. If you are curious, visit our website and book an appointment.