STORY:  SAVING A TOOTH

SCRIPT #567  SHOOT:  7/14/04

AIRDATE:  Monday, July 26, 2004

DHC Master #19  Timecode: 46:29                    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.

 

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ABBY WALKING INTO OFFICE                      (VOICE-OVER)

 

SUPER:   Dallas   :02-07                                     When Abby Gilmore developed a bad

                                                                                                toothache, she worried that she might

                                                                                                have to have the tooth removed in order

                                                                                                to get any relief.

 

SUPER:   Abby Gilmore                                      (“It was just this sharp pain going up the

Dental Patient      :08-13                   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.”)

                                               

DR. PAUL WONG WITH ABBY                       Abby’s dentist referred her to

                                                                                                an endodontist, a dental specialist who

                                                                                                provides root canal treatment.

 

SUPER:  Dr. Paul Wong                                     (“Usually if the treatment’s done well

   Endodontist       :31-36                                      and taken care of properly, it’s going to

                                                                                work 95% of the time.”)

 

TWO-SHOT                                                                          According to Dr. Paul Wong, endodontic

treatment has a high success rate.

 

DR. WONG                                                                           (“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.”)

 

ROOT CANAL                                                     Here are some important facts about

                                                                                                root canal treatment.

GRAPHICS                                                                            It is usually more cost effective than

More cost effective…                                                         pulling a tooth and replacing it with

Insurance pays…                                                 a bridge or implant.  Insurance often

Safe and effective..                                                              pays part or all of the cost.  It is safe

Most patients describe…                                   and effective at any age.  And most

                                                                                                patients describe the procedure as

                                                                                                painless.

 

ABBY GILMORE                                                                 (“There was no pain whatsoever during

                                                                                                the root canal.”)

 

ABBY’S CROWN                                                                A permanent crown protects the tooth

                                                                                                after the procedure.

 

DR. WONG                                                                           (“A crown needs to be placed, in my

                                                                                                opinion, 100% of the time on the

                                                                                                back teeth.”)

 

SUPER:  Dr. Linda Niessen                                               When we can save a tooth, in addition to

                Baylor College of Dentistry                                your appearance, we preserve a very

1:22-1:27                                                 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.

WEBSITE for more information:

www.aae.org

American Association of

Endodontists 

Click on “For the Patient” for

more information about root

canal treatment.

 

 

Dr. Paul Wong, Endodontist

8201 Preston Road, Suite 375

Dallas, TX

214-361-6669