What is an Endodontist
An endodontist is a dental specialist that only focuses on the branch of dentistry known as endodontics; one of 12 dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. Just like cardiologists are specialists within medicine, endodontists are specialists within dentistry. Endodontists receive an additional 2-3 years of advanced specialty training beyond their 4 years in dental school. They focus specifically on the diagnosis and treatment of tooth pain, infection, trauma, and fractures corresponding with diseases of the tooth pulp and roots.
We are experts in doing root canals, redoing failing root canals, in performing endodontic microsurgery (apicoectomy), and highly skilled in finding the cause of dental pain that is difficult to diagnose. It’s all we do all day, every day! On average, an endodontist performs about 25 root canals per week, making us very comfortable with handling both routine and complex root canal cases, the most anxious patients, and teeth that are difficult to numb.
Advanced Technology
Endodontist also receive focused training in utilizing advanced technology such as surgical operating microscopes, 3D cone beam CT imaging, and specialized techniques for administering local anesthetics in order to ensure accurate diagnosis, extremely high treatment success rates, and in making root canal treatment a completely comfortable procedure. Endodontists are highly proficient in ensuring complete numbness of the tooth's nerve and in making root canal treatment a pain-free procedure!
Specialists in Saving Teeth
In most cases, an infected or “diseased” tooth can be saved with root canal treatment. Even a tooth that has already had a root canal and is still causing pain or infection can often be saved. Hence, we proudly call ourselves Specialists in Saving Teeth, and we firmly believe that the best implant is nature’s own!
Why can’t my Dentist do my root canal?
All dentists are trained in performing root canals. As a matter of fact, 60-70% of the root canals performed every year are done by general dentists simply because there aren’t enough endodontists to handle 100% of all root canals. However, certain cases can be difficult to diagnose and/or treat, which is usually the reason why your dentist chooses to refer you to see an endodontist. Some of the common complexities include:
- Complex root canal anatomy, curved roots, multiple roots, or calcified canals
- Difficulty in identifying the problem tooth or the cause of pain
- Severe pain/swelling/infection
- Possible tooth and/or root fracture
- Specialty imaging such as 3D cone beam CT
- Root canal retreatment or apicoectomy
- Root resorption
For more information about endodontists and what we do, please click here