Sonendo Secures $17 Million Funding to Advance GentleWave Minimally Invasive Root Canal Therapy

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that biotechnology company Sonendo announced the completion of a $17 million new round of financing on July 5 (with the specific round and investors undisclosed). The proceeds from this round will be used to drive marketing efforts for its minimally invasive root canal treatment system, GentleWave. According to a document filed by Sonendo with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on July 1, the amount raised was in line with expectations.

It is reported that Sonendo has previously completed a total of 12 financing rounds, raising $186.7 million in investment. Among these, the company closed a $35 million Series D round in August 2014 and a $35 million Series E round in December 2016.

Sonendo, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Laguna Hills, California, USA, is dedicated to developing innovative technologies that transform endodontic treatment methods, thereby enhancing the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of current root canal therapies. Three months ago, the company announced the launch of GentleWave in Canada.

In the United States alone, more than 17 million root canal therapy procedures are performed annually. Root canal therapy is the most widely used and effective international standard treatment for pulp diseases and periapical diseases. The principle of root canal therapy involves removing the majority of infectious materials from the root canal system through mechanical and chemical methods, followed by obturation of the root canal and coronal sealing to prevent periapical lesions or promote the healing of existing ones. Root canal irrigation aims to eliminate microorganisms, flush out debris, lubricate endodontic instruments, and dissolve organic residues. Subsequently, root canal disinfection is performed to achieve a sterile environment within the root canal system.

The GentleWave system, based on novel root canal therapy technology, has improved dental treatment services across clinics in the United States. By integrating fluid dynamics principles, the system applies vortex flow and broad-spectrum acoustic energy to disinfect and clean the tooth’s root canal system, thereby eliminating infection. As fluid enters the root canal system, air bubbles may obstruct the canals; however, GentleWave prevents such air locks and avoids bubble-induced absorption of acoustic energy. Sonendo states that GentleWave can reach areas of the tooth undetectable by conventional instruments, enabling minimally invasive procedures and maximizing the preservation of intact tooth structure. Bjarne Bergheim, CEO of the company, believes that clinical demand for this system will increase.

Combined with GentleWave’s unique fluid delivery and control system, SoundFlow enables a more efficient and rapid fluid delivery process. When used in conjunction with the SoundBAR, the irrigant penetrates into the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, simultaneously cleaning both large surfaces and minute dental structures to achieve optimal debridement. Following cleaning, endodontically treated sites heal rapidly and return to health.

SoundFlow is a multi-stage fluid cleaning device used to degas and adjust the concentration of fluids before they circulate through the root canal system. SoundBAR is a device that generates acoustic wave energy to create vortex flows, thereby maximizing the removal of root canal tissue and dissolution of debris through cavitation and fluid vortices.

(Compiled by Tang Lulu)