Someone asked me a question the other day: “Where do you think endodontics will be in 5 years?” My answer was, “In my opinion, our field is experiencing a major transition and endodontics will be primarily non-instrumented.”

I’m sure we’ve all heard the buzz surrounding new technology that will compete with, or perhaps compliment, the GentleWave® system. But with the current resistance to adopting new technology like GentleWave, what costs do we incur by keeping our minds closed to change?

Our minds are like parachutes, they work best when they’re open.

It all begins with mindset. You can only really change when your mind is open; open to the fact that it’s ok to be wrong and open to the possibility that things may be rough for a little bit.

I’ve had pangs of guilt about questioning everything I had been taught, as though change would somehow disrespect my professors.  After all, endodontics has been practiced the same way for 50 or 60 years. Looking at my own behavior, I admit I was nervous about adopting new technology and inviting change to systems that had been in place in my practice for almost 2 decades. I questioned myself, “Was I making a costly mistake bringing the GentleWave system into my practice?” I was already successfully able to treat 12 to 13 patients a day, with ease. However, the fear of being wrong compounded by the comfort of the status quo is why we get stuck in place and resistant to change. I knew that I had to open my mind in order to grow.

Change may be disruptive, but stagnation can cost you more.

After introducing the GentleWave technology and implementing new systems to maintain our ability to treat 12 to 13 patients a day, I quickly realized how important this investment was for my practice and my patients. One of the biggest benefits to come from GentleWave, has been improvements in patient care. Patients are more comfortable during treatment. As I’ve learned the GentleWave system, treatment protocol went from minimally invasive endo to non-invasive endo. We get to save important tooth structure to help preserve the long-term health of the tooth. My patients are healing more quickly, and I can’t remember the last time I prescribed narcotics.

Other benefits of inviting change into my practice include reduced stress, a new stream of revenue and lower overhead.

GentleWave has made treatment effortless; there’s no stress and “mental weight” of having to get the files to the tip of the root to ensure we’re doing everything possible to remove the infection. We’ve seen that the GentleWave can disinfect a root canal system without the assistance of a file. I feel confident knowing that every patient receives a consistent and thorough clean. And, I’m inspired that we get to save teeth that would have previously had to be extracted.

I still use files but not nearly as often as before which has tremendously lowered my overhead. Further, we have adjusted our rates to compensate for the GentleWave technology which has helped increase my annual net revenue.

Had I not opened my mind to change, my practice would have incurred the following opportunity costs:

  • Higher overhead
  • More stress during treatment
  • Loss of new income stream
  • Not as great of patient satisfaction

Advanced technology is an investment in your practice and your patients.

When weighing the costs and benefits associated with the new mindset of non-instrumented endodontics, keep in mind that Sonendo will bring a GentleWave unit to your office and cover the course of training before you make a financial commitment. A shift in workflow is a short-term change that you’ll undergo. However, once the right systems are in place, you’ll be able to treat more efficiently, reduce your stress, increase your revenue and enjoy more free time.