Written by: Natasha Zo, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Healthy tips on reducing the cost of your dental health are important to us all. To achieve this, we have to focus on prevention. When you go to do your dental checkups or you have a toothache, you might not give any thought to which type of dentist you see. But there is a difference between a general dentist and an endodontist.
Dr. Sonia Chopra, a renowned and experienced endodontist, shares her thoughts on the importance of prevention and the work of endodontists to restore and maintain the healthy ecosystem of our mouth.
Dr. Chopra has a personal connection to her profession. She was born without eight teeth and had various dental procedures, but it wasn't until a compassionate endodontist correctly diagnosed her and treated her with a root canal that her pain disappeared. This experience inspired her to become an endodontist, and she went on to earn her DDS and complete two residencies. She later founded Ballantyne Endodontics in Charlotte, North Carolina, and became the first board-certified female endodontist in her city.
Every tooth has a story. What is yours?
Nobody wants to go to the dentist, right? And let’s face it, dentists prefer to only see you for cleanings and check-ups because that means your mouth is healthy!
Prevention and brushing and flossing your teeth regularly are important steps if you want to achieve that. But the first thing you really need to do is pay attention to what’s happening with your teeth and become aware of your teeth’s stories.
We were born with teeth for a reason. Our mouth is the gateway to our body, and our teeth are important for our health. They help us chew and digest nutritious food, and they allow us to have beautiful smiles that give us confidence.
Every single tooth has a story that tells a dentist about its health and your overall health. Dr. Chopra explains that several studies have shown that poor oral health can lead to gum infections and exaggerate other health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. A good diet, brushing, flossing, and preventing high costs are important for oral health.
How to get healthier teeth?
To maintain healthy teeth, brushing is essential. While it is a common practice to brush their teeth in the morning, many forget the importance of brushing at night. During the night, the saliva production that helps keep harmful bacteria at bay decreases. This can result in the buildup of bacteria in the mouth, leading to oral health issues. If you forget toothpaste while you’re traveling, brush anyway! Brushing is more important than toothpaste itself.
Additionally, regular flossing can prevent dentist visits and root canal treatments. The bacteria that accumulate between teeth are a major cause of infections; brushing alone can’t get those bugs out of there. The time and money it takes to floss daily is minimal compared to an extraction or a root canal.
If a root canal is unavoidable, it is important to choose a reliable professional for the treatment. Endodontists are root canal specialists, and Dr. Chopra refers to them as “tooth savers.” You can ask your dentist for a referral to an endodontist.
Your gut and your health go hand-in-hand sometimes; that is why a good diet is also very important for your teeth' health. That includes eating rich sources of vitamins D, A, and K2. Vitamin D allows you to absorb the calcium your teeth need. Also, research shows that vitamin K2 can significantly reduce tooth decay! And vitamin A is really important for regeneration.
Dr. Sonia Chopra states that eating healthy foods is enough to get your daily vitamins. Those healthy foods are nothing out of the ordinary for good gut health: eggs, fatty fish, green leafy vegetables, and fermented foods.
Dentists and endodontists work together for your health
Dr. Sonia Chopra is actively working to educate other professionals and the general public on the difference between a dentist, an endodontist, and other dental specialists.
Dentists
Dentists perform mouth cleanses and prevention visits, fillings, crowns, bridges, and other restorations. They also do root canals and extractions, but when they feel a procedure is out of their comfort level, they may refer you to an endodontist for further evaluation and treatment. It is important to seek professional dental care to alleviate discomfort and maintain good oral health.
Endodontists
While all endodontists are dentists, less than three percent of dentists are endodontists, according to the American Association of Endodontists. Endodontists use specialized techniques to save teeth, such as root canals and other endodontic treatments. They ensure patients are thoroughly comfortable during their treatments and are experts in administering numbing medications, especially in patients who traditionally have problems getting and staying numb.
In addition to treating you comfortably, patients will be relieved of tooth pain after their root canal procedure when the pulp infection or inflammation heals. Moreover, one of the main advantages is the fact that it helps to save teeth.
If you’re wondering what a root canal is, Dr. Chopra likes to explain it with a metaphor. Imagine your tooth is a Twinkie, but due to a crack or damage, the cream inside has gotten dirty. The best course of action is to access the cream filling, remove the dirty cream, and put in fresh cream. Then, seal up the Twinkie, so the cream stays clean. Your tooth is like that Twinkie, and endodontists are specialists in cleaning out the bacteria and restoring your tooth to full health.
Endodontists use high-tech tools and equipment designed to make your treatment more comfortable and successful, such as the GentleWave, which uses sound waves and irrigation to flush all of the bacteria out of your teeth’s canals. In addition, they use a small sheet of plastic or rubber called a dental dam to isolate the tooth during treatment, protecting the rest of your mouth.
Digital radiographs and 3-D imaging allows endodontists to take detailed pictures of tiny tooth anatomy, so they can better see the internal anatomy and any related infections. The space inside root canals is smaller than FDR's ear on the dime! Endodontists use high-power dental operating microscopes to better see inside the root canals to treat them thoroughly.
Dr. Chopra states it really clearly: “We are delivering the modern-day root canal. We mix technology with comfortability. For example, the GentleWave irrigation system has been so good for the patients, often reducing their post-procedure pain significantly!”
Tell the difference and go to the proper professional for your dental issues!
You may need to see an endodontist if you have tooth pain or sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, swelling or tenderness in the gums, or a small bump on the gums. These symptoms can indicate a problem with the dental pulp and may require a root canal treatment. Fortunately, modern-day root canals use powerful technology that helps resolve your pain and is safe and effective. In the same way, a general practitioner refers patients with heart abnormalities to a cardiologist, general dentists often refer patients who need root canals to endodontists. It may be frustrating to go to the next specialist, but understanding who can be the exact person you need is both necessary and empowering, and it can help you get the best outcome for a healthy mouth and a happy ending to your tooth story.
Natasha Zo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Natasha Zo is a former journalist from Siberia turned international media relations specialist. She is a founder of Cosa Famosa media – a boutique PR agency on a mission to amplify messages of conscious leaders, health, and wellness entrepreneurs through earned media. Known for her connector skills, she guided a number of authors to Amazon bestseller status, booked national TV, top-tier media, and over 400 podcast interviews.
