An endodontist is a highly trained dental professional who resolves problems within the tooth using specialized techniques. They can identify and treat more complicated causes of tooth pain, such as a tooth abscess or infection. Root canal therapy and other operations performed by endodontists help alleviate discomfort and prevent the loss of natural teeth.
The need for specialized treatment
The nerves, blood vessels, and other structures inside the tooth make up the tooth pulp. The pulp, or connective tissue inside teeth, is critical for the development of children's teeth.
Pulp infection or inflammation, also called pulpitis, is sometimes the result of tooth decay due to poor dental hygiene or a fractured tooth. Pulpitis can cause significant toothache and occasionally result in a health issue that needs immediate medical treatment.
The endodontist’s qualifications
All endodontists are dentists. However, only a few dentists have completed the additional endodontic training. An endodontist must undergo at least two years of further specialized study after graduating from dental school. Endodontists learn to detect and treat tooth pain caused by issues with the tooth pulp and roots.
Root canal dentists and endodontists are two terms that are frequently used interchangeably. Both general dentists and endodontists may perform root canal therapy, but endodontists conduct it more regularly. Endodontists have more expertise in root canal therapy because of the extra training and volume of treatments that they handle.
Endodontists are experts at identifying the reasons for tooth discomfort that can be difficult to diagnose. Other dental procedures that they do icnlude:
- Endodontic retreatment, which entails removing and replacing components that failed to heal adequately following a prior root canal
- Emergency dental surgery, to fix complicated dental injuries or treat serious tooth infections
- Tooth extraction procedure, when a tooth has been significantly damaged and cannot be salvaged
- Endodontic surgery, including apicoectomy, which entails removing the tip of a tooth's root
Performing the root canal procedure
An endodontist eliminates infected or damaged pulp tissue inside a tooth during root canal therapy. Once the inflamed or diseased tissue is cleaned out, patients should experience significant pain relief. The procedure will also remove bacteria that might cause further harm to the tooth and general wellbeing.
To treat tissues inside a tooth, endodontists utilize an operating microscope and advanced equipment. The patient’s mouth is numbed with a local anesthetic for comfort. Next, the dental professional will put a dental dam (small tarp) on the patient’s tooth to isolate the treatment region.
They will then create an access point at the back or top of the tooth to reach the tooth's pulp tissue. Once the damaged and infected tissue is cleaned out, the endodontist will clean and disinfect the pulp chamber. Afterward, the tooth will be filled with a rubber-like material and sealed off.
Final note
If you are experiencing persistent tooth pain and other symptoms of a tooth infection, book an appointment with the endodontist as soon as possible. They can provide specialized treatment to restore oral health.
Request an appointment here: https://santarosaendodontics.com or call Santa Rosa Endodontics at (707) 706-2143 for an appointment in our Santa Rosa office.
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