There are many specialties within the field of dentistry. An endodontist specializes in treating the tissues inside of the tooth. When you normally think of a tooth you probably don’t think about the nerves and blood vessels inside. But, your teeth are living tissues, just like any other part of your body. When your teeth are sensitive to cold ice cream, you can thank the nerves inside your tooth. Likewise, when a tooth aches, you can blame those same nerves. Treating this kind of tooth pain is the specialty of endodontists. Although general dentists can also perform root canals, many would rather leave them to the specialists.
Endodontists are dentists by training and complete four years of dental school. However, after dental school they also go on to complete a residency in endodontics. These programs take between two and three years to complete. Some endodontists also earn a Master’s degree at the completion of their residency, though this is not mandatory.
Root Canal Specialists
When a tooth has become infected, it must either be extracted or treated with root canal therapy. Endodontists specialize in saving teeth that would otherwise have to be pulled. Root canal therapy involves replacing the soft pulp tissue inside the tooth with a sealer. Most importantly, the tooth must be thoroughly disinfected and all signs of infection must be thoroughly removed.
Some teeth are harder to treat than others. Most dentists can perform root canal therapy on front teeth. But, it is rare to see a general dentist who is comfortable root canal treating upper molars, and even rarer to see a general dentist who can do so competently.
Endodontists have the training and experience to perform root canal therapy on any tooth in the mouth. They are also familiar with treating patients who present underlying health conditions that may make root canal treatment less likely to succeed. Additionally, endodontists are able to perform more complex procedures like root-end surgery / apicoectomy. Although rare, apicoectomies are sometimes necessary when an infection doesn’t resolve after root canal therapy.
Should I See an Endodontist?
Your general dentist will know when a referral to an endodontist is appropriate. If your general dentists has determined that you need a root canal, you have the right to request a referral to a specialist to perform the root canal treatment. Generally, the most difficult teeth to treat are the top molars as they tend to have complex anatomy. However, any tooth in the mouth can present difficulties that a treating clinician may not be able to anticipate.
If you are experiencing tooth pain, it is sometimes possible to see an endodontist without a referral from a general dentist. Be sure that whomever performs the root canal treatment is someone you trust and are comfortable with.