While 2019 may have been the year of decluttering, thanks to author Marie Kondo, this year people are considering the value of conserving the things that matter the most to them. Savingfamilyscrapbooks is a no-brainer when it comes to things to hold on to, but what about saving one of the most important parts of our body – our teeth?
In 2019, the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) expanded their Root Canal Awareness Week, traditionally observed during May, into SaveYourToothMonth. The organization has amplified its message that endodontics – the dental specialty area concerned with treating and better supporting the function of dental pulp – plays an important role in helping clients retain use of their natural teeth for a lifetime.
Why Is Saving My Teeth Important?
Our teeth are crucial to our ability to eat, speak, and smile. When a tooth is extracted because it has been damaged by infection or trauma, other teeth can shift, leading to a host of dental problems.
A smile (or lack of one) is one of the first things others notice, so if you are missing even a few natural teeth, your self-confidence can plummet. Dental restorations such as bridges and dental implants can provide significant support to those who have lost a natural tooth, but the procedures to provide them are often costly and require repeated dental visits to complete.
Dr. Susan L. Wood, who practices with the Phoenix Endodontic Group, says, “Saving your natural tooth should always be your first choice. Nothing looks or functions exactly like a natural tooth.”
How Can Endodontics Help Preserve My Natural Teeth?
Endodontic dental specialists have benefited from improvements in technology and technique in the last generation and have multiple ways to help save your natural teeth. Some of their most common services include:
- Root canal treatment
- Endodontic retreatment of failing root canals
- Apicoectomy, or root-end resection, which treats the bone around the tip of your tooth root
- Stabilizing and providing emergency care to teeth that have been knocked out or suffered other types of dentaltrauma
“The primary goal of endodontics is to save your natural teeth,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, founder of and current practitioner at the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “Our staff provides individualized guidance to each client on the best ways to help them keep their teeth and avoid extractions whenever possible. Our offices stand ready to help you deal safely with all your endodontic needs.”
