Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Saving A Tooth

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, July 26, 2004

STORY:  SAVING A TOOTH

This year in the U.S., more than 24 million teeth will be saved through root canal treatment.   Yet it remains the most dreaded of  all dental procedures.   But Dr. Linda Niessen has good news. Root canal therapy is virtually painless and has a high success rate. Find out more in this Dental Health Check.

When Abby Gilmore developed a bad toothache, she worried that she might have to have the tooth removed in order to get any relief.

"It was just this sharp pain going up the side of my mouth and it gave me a  headache.  And I couldn't sleep that night. I called my regular dentist.  He said come in. It's an emergency. He looked at it and took some x-rays."
   
Abby's dentist referred her to an endodontist, a dental specialist who  provides root canal treatment.

"Usually if the treatment's done well and taken care of properly, it's going to work 95% of the time," said endodontist Dr. Paul Wong. According to Dr. Wong, endodontic treatment has a high success rate.

"Endodontic therapy can remove that infection, the source of that infection. The primary concern for us is saving the tooth, and that's where our goal is and  that's what we try to obtain," he said.

Here are some important facts about root canal treatment.

• More cost effective -- It is usually more cost effective than pulling a tooth and replacing it with a bridge or implant. 
• Insurance pays -- Insurance often pays part or all of the cost.
• Safe and effective -- It is safe and effective at any age.
• Virtually painless -- And most patients describe the procedure as painless.

"There was no pain whatsoever during the root canal," said Abby Gilmore.

A permanent crown protects the tooth after the procedure. Dr. Wong continued, "A crown needs to be placed, in my opinion, 100% of the time on the back teeth."

When we can save a tooth, in addition to your appearance, we preserve a very  important part of your oral health, the feel and function of your natural tooth.  Endodontics gives us the best chance to do this.  For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M System, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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