IN MAY, WE PROUDLY celebrate Save Your Tooth Month. A healthy mouth is essential for overall well-being, and tooth pain serves as a clear warning sign that something is amiss. When faced with aching teeth in need of rescue, who can you turn to? Endodontists! Let’s explore how these dental specialists keep patients safe by preserving their natural teeth.
Why Preserve Instead of Extract?
At first glance, it may seem easier to simply extract an infected or diseased tooth rather than attempting to save it. However, our natural teeth are precious and worth preserving. Despite remarkable advancements in prosthodontics (artificial teeth), nothing compares to the appearance, function, and longevity of our own teeth. Additionally, tooth extraction can be more painful than the initial infection itself!
Even if a missing tooth is located at the back of the mouth where it may go unnoticed, it can still affect self-confidence and quality of life. A single missing tooth creates a gap that neighboring teeth gradually shift into. It also fails to stimulate the jawbone, leading to bone loss over time. Finally, replacing an extracted tooth with an artificial one often requires multiple dental visits, resulting in cumulative time and effort.
Modern Endodontics: Preserving Teeth for a Lifetime
A modern endodontist’s office is equipped with advanced tools and technology that offer various options for preserving patients’ natural teeth. While some general dentists provide endodontic treatment, only an endodontist possesses the education, training, years of experience, and specialized equipment necessary to give a tooth its best chance at lasting a lifetime. The endodontist will assess your tooth and develop a tailored treatment plan to ensure its preservation.
Changing Perceptions of Root Canals
Root canals have earned a negative reputation in our society, but it’s time to dispel the outdated misconceptions. When a root canal procedure is performed, tooth pain subsides. During the treatment, the endodontist carefully removes the inflamed or infected pulp, thoroughly cleans and shapes the root canal, and seals the space to prevent further issues. Subsequently, your general dentist or a restoration specialist will place a crown or other restoration to restore full functionality and protect the tooth.
As we celebrate Save Your Tooth Month, it’s truly remarkable to acknowledge the tooth-saving power of root canal procedures. Endodontists undergo an additional two years of specialized training to master their expertise in endodontic procedures, making this celebration well-deserved.
Express Gratitude to Endodontists
Not all heroes wear capes and protect citizens from supervillains; some work in endodontic practices, don lab coats, and spend their days rescuing teeth! Join us in spreading the message that root canals and endodontists are dedicated to saving teeth.
