[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 25, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E572-E573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING MAY AS SAVE YOUR TOOTH MONTH

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 25, 2021

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Save Your 
Tooth Month. This month celebrates Americans saving their natural teeth 
and recognizes the ``savers''--endodontists--who make this possible.
  The more than 5,000 endodontists in the U.S. play an important role 
in providing oral health care throughout our country, spread awareness 
about practicing good oral hygiene, and emphasize the value of 
retaining one's natural teeth and smile.
  Endodontists are dentists that specialize in diagnosing and treating 
tooth pain and performing root canal treatment. Following the dental 
school, endodontists have completed an additional 2 to 3 years of 
advanced training. This gives them enhanced precision, making them 
highly skilled in performing complex treatments.
  Teeth are a gateway to nutrition, a sign of emotion, and a signal of 
overall good health. We all feel better when our teeth are clean and 
pain-free. And although dentures can work well and have improved 
significantly, they are never as good as a full set of natural teeth. 
Our natural teeth are worth saving, and endodontists focus their 
careers solely on doing just that.
  Nothing looks, feels, or functions like your natural tooth. Regular 
brushing and flossing, along with 6-month check-ups from your dentist, 
can help you keep your teeth for a lifetime. It is worth the extra few 
minutes each day to maintain good oral hygiene.
  If you do experience issues with your teeth, seek out proper dental 
care. In particular, if you have tooth pain, you can seek treatment 
from an endodontist. Endodontists use the most current and advanced 
technology to treat dental patients.
  It should be noted that it is extremely safe to visit the endodontist 
during the COVID-19 pandemic, with endodontists practicing the utmost 
caution and disinfection protocol. Even at the height of America's 
spring 2020 shutdown, most endodontic practices remained open to safely 
treat dental emergencies.
  Thank you to all the endodontists for your dedicated work in helping 
us maintain our natural teeth. Happy Save Your Tooth Month.

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