Dental Restoration Trends

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Facet Thermal Ablation Facts:

When trying to compare a facet thermal ablation to any other medical procedure, one has to consider a root canal that the dentist would perform. During a thermal ablation procedure the surgeon makes use of a laser to clean debris from the facet joint while deadening the nerve causing pain.

A facet thermal ablation is an endoscopic procedure, and although it shares the same “scopic” term as arthroscopic, and both use similar tubular instruments, each are much different. An arthroscopic procedure is performed inside the joint; an endoscopic procedure will never breach the joint.

Facet disease, facet joint syndrome, facet hypertrophy, facet arthritis and degenerative facet joints all mean basically the same thing - Arthritis or degeneration affecting the facet joint. These conditions can all be corrected through a facet thermal ablation.

When comparing other joints in the body to the facet joint, they are quite similar. They all have cartilage that lines the joint creating a resistance to friction and are encased in a capsule of fluid

The main function of the facet joint is to provide each vertebra with support, while providing stability with mobility. Each vertebra pairing has two facet joints between them located on each side. The most common place for facet joint disease to occur is in the lumbar section of the back, although it can develop in any of the facet joints in the spine.