The Endodontist

Who and what is an endodontist?

When a dentist has a patient that has specific dental problems, that dentist may send the patient to a specialist. Each dentist has his or her own specialty that they are comfortable practicing and seeing a specialist in regards to specific problems can be highly advantageous. Dentists like specializing in areas that they enjoy because it gives them invaluable experience that they can pass on to their patients and it also extends the scope of the procedures that they are able to perform. The endodontist is one of these dental specialists.

The endodontist is a dentist that deals specifically with issues that relate to the tooth pulp and the tissue that surrounds the tooth pulp. In general, the endodontist is an expert in root canal treatments.

The tooth pulp is an amazingly complex and highly sensitive area that contains a complex system of nerves, arterioles (small blood vessels carrying oxygenated blood) and venules (blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood).The tooth pulp also contains fibrous issue (tissue that generally has a high tensile strength) and lymphatic tissue as well. Treating this area can be a sensitive issue and because of the underlying risks that are involved with procedures in the area, it would make sense to see an endodontist.

The endodontist typically has an additional 3 years of education and training that specifically relates to root canals and root canal surgery. The endodontist receives this training often working in hospitals after dental school providing emergency dental care for people that have dental or facial trauma. This is considered their residency period. The endodontist is typically board certified with the American Board of Endodontics too.

Having a root canal procedure by the endodontist is the most common way to save a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted. Having experience in doing a root canal can be the difference between saving the tooth and loosing it.
Root canals can not only mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth but it can make a huge difference as to whether or not the disease that exists in the tooth pulp spreads to other areas.

If the area is left untreated, or is not done properly by a regular dentist, the disease can continue to spread causing bone infection and alveolar bone (the ridge of bone that holds the tooth) loss as well. By seeing the endodontist, you will benefit from their expertise and get the proper root canal treatment the first time.