CHICAGO, March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — When it comes to their
teeth, Americans have strong feelings about keeping them. According
to a January 2011 survey by the American Association of
Endodontists, 70 percent of Americans want to avoid losing their
natural teeth. One way to help people maintain their natural teeth
is through root canal treatment. During Root Canal Awareness Week,
March 27 – April 2, the American Association of Endodontists
wants to dispel the negative myths surrounding this dental
treatment and encourage patients who need a root canal to see an
endodontist who will skillfully provide this treatment.
“Nothing looks, feels or functions as well as your natural
teeth. Choosing to save a tooth with root canal treatment will help
you sustain your ability to bite and chew and maintain the natural
appearance of your smile,” said AAE President Dr. Clara M.
Spatafore.
More than 15 million root canals are performed each year in the
U.S., and the vast majority of root canal patients – 89 percent
– say they were satisfied when they received treatment from
an endodontist, a dentist who specializes in root canals. And yet
70 percent of U.S. respondents in the AAE’s recent survey also said
they feared having a root canal.
“Ironically, when patients have an infected tooth, a root canal
is the very procedure that can save it,” said Dr. Spatafore. “Many
patients do not realize that, just like any other medical
specialty, significant advances in technology have enabled
endodontists to perform root canals safely and comfortably.”
Endodontists are dentists who have completed at least two
additional years of American Dental Association-approved advanced
specialty education and training in the diagnosis and treatment of
tooth pain. Their practice is focused on preserving natural teeth,
mostly through performing root canal treatment.
AAE research shows that patients who have experienced root canal
treatment are si
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