In this episode, we interviewed the endodontist, aka root canal specialist, Dr. John Duong. Dr. Duong explained the most common symptoms and signs of root canal problems. He also unveiled the myth about root canal treatment for baby teeth. He furthered talked about the process of root canals and what patients should expect.

About the Guest:

Dr. John Duong is the owner and founder of Lakeview dental, Las Vegas. Dr. Duong graduated from Temple University School of Dentistry in 1998. He continued his education by specializing in endodontics and received his first doctorate degree in 2000. Dr. Duong has been an endodontist specialist for more than 20 years and continues to keep up with the latest techniques and technologies available to provide patients with the best care. 

About the Hosts:

Angelina Huang, Founder

Angelia is a nationally top ranked junior golfer at her junior high year. Angelina is also ranked number one academically among seven hundred students at Clark High School, Nevada. Angelina hopes to play college golf and pursue a career in the medical field or dentistry. Her passion is Neuroscience and Statistics. Angelina has been travelling around the country competing against the best junior golfers in the world since age of seven. She is also the Amazon published author, “I Want to Play College Golf”. Since Year 2021, Angelina and Cameron have donated over $17,000 their book proceeds back to the community for the underserved family and patients who are in need of cancer treatment. Aside from daily golf practices and school, she enjoys listening to music and watching chilling crime shows.

Cameron Huang, Founder

Cameron is also a nationally top ranked junior golfer at her sophomore year. Cameron is ranked top 5% academically among eight hundred students at Clark High School, Nevada. Cameron also hopes to play college golf and pursue a career as an orthodontist in the future.  Cameron is the coauthor of “I Want to Play College Golf” with Angelina, and they have donated over $17,000 their book proceeds back to the community for the underserved family and patients who are in need of cancer treatment.  When Cameron isn't on the green or studying, she's enjoying her free time watching K-drama and studying makeup and skincare with her friends.

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Welcome to the Dentistry for Kidz podcast. We are Angelina and Cameron and we love candy. Do you all love candy? We've learned how to enjoy all the candy we want without getting cavities or getting in trouble with our dentist wants to learn our magic. Join us discover how to enjoy sweets and have nice bright, clean, shiny white teeth. Let's go.

Dr. John Duong is the owner and founder of Lakeview Dental in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. John graduated from Temple University School of Dentistry in 1998. And continued his education by specializing in endodontics and received his first doctorate degree and 2000 Dr. John has been an endodontic specialist for more than 20 years and continues to keep up with the latest techniques and technologies available to provide patients with the best care. Are you ready to start?

Yes. That's how fun yeah.

So for the first question is what is an endodontist?

Okay, and ended on is like a dentist, we go through four years of dental school, and then an RN, we'll do an additional two years of endodontic training, which is to specialize strictly in diagnosing and treating tooth pain.

Perfect. So why do you think people need endodontics?

Okay, most people come to me, referred to me by the dentist because they have tooth pain and due to anatomical challenges and canal complexity, they they want as a specialist who, who does this every day to handle root canal treatment. So that's why they come to TCS as endodontist.

Okay, so okay, this question is a three part one. So tell me if you need me to restate it. So do you have patients who are kids? And how do the patients or parents know if their children have root canal problems? What like, what are the signs?

Yes, I been. We've been training kids as young as eight years old, sometimes even younger. One of the reason kids ended up needing root canals because they have cavities that are getting way too big and it's already gone into the nerve. And we can't just do a regular cavity fillings. So they come to me or to another endodontist to take care of the Pulpo pain or tooth pain. Parents though, because most kids started complaining to their parents say, Hey, I have a toothache. And that's how they come to see the dentist either Peter Donnas, who then refer to an endodontist or sometimes the Peter Donnas can do root canal for them.

Oh, that's interesting. Do you think root canal Cimon is sacred children?

Yeah, so up to date research. I think it's it's quite safe and we try to do the least as much as least as possible for kids. So if I can avoid a root canal by doing a pope direct PopCap I ideally that will be the ideal situation. Whereas in turn in case there's a tooth that turn necrotic or infected then we have to proceed with a root canal for root canal. So it is a safe procedure. Yes.

And as root canal treatment hurt, do you put your kids to sleep and what does it procedure look like?

The the answer the short answer is if the patient is properly anesthetize, it shouldn't hurt at all. But sometimes you have a hot poll, which mean there's a lot information then it could ended up hurting but we try to control the pain as much as possible to make the patient feel comfortable and just to get the procedure done. As far as like putting patients to sleep by normally provide very light sedation. We use valium to calm the patient down. I don't give any deeper sedation as I don't have a anesthesiology license for that. So that that require a another specialty to come in and put the kids to sleep. Whoo hoo.

Cool. So what happens if kids need root canal treatment but the parents decided to not do anything

Well, they have two options if they don't want to do a root canal. And one way is if the tooth is completely bombed out as ghost decay, then they can have the teeth extracted. You pretty much limited to either root canal if the tooth can be saved, or extract and properly want to save the tooth for as long as possible, so they can't just leave it and then do nothing, it will get infected eventually. So at some point, you're going to have to address the problem.

So if baby teeth have problems, can't people just have them removed? Why bother having root canal treatment? Okay, so

we're looking at baby teeth and adult teats. Baby teeth. They said the procedure car pardon me? You? The short answer is you don't have to do root canals on baby teeth, you can just have them removed if cost is an issue, but in situation where they can afford the root canal, we try to save the baby teeth for as long as possible because it maintains space so that adult teeth can eventually grow into that space.

So what are the top things parents should know to avoid their children having root canal treatment? Okay,

so my suggestion is to brush daily. Be mindful that you have to brush at least twice a day. And and start training kids to start flossing. When possible. Introduce them to flossing brushing, and every time you eat something sweet. Try to brush off that candies or soda so that it doesn't stick to your tea. Because it if it sticks to your tea, it will call a cavity and if you ignore cavities, it will lead to tooth pain. And then you're going to have to come and see me or Peter Donnas.

Huh, you're so cool. So is there anything else you'd like to talk to the audience as your final words?

Well, my my goal is to advise kids to make sure that you you try to keep up. Try to go to your dentist at least once every six months. Try to keep up with oral hygiene. Try to brush twice a day and start thinking about flossing as soon as you can. So that you get into a habit of flossing brushing, so that you can avoid getting cavities. Now the RO can it can be expensive for your parents. And it can sometimes it can be painful if you have a toothache. So the bottom line is brush, floss, and go to see your dentist as often as you can.

I learned so much from you today. Thank you so much for coming.

Thank you. Thank you and congratulations on train this podcast. And this is pretty awesome four to two to get messages sent out for kids. So congratulations to you and Angelina.

Thank you so much.