An endodontist is a specialist who diagnoses and treats problems with the tooth pulp and root of the tooth. A root canal is sometimes referred to as endodontic therapy. Many people go to an endodontist for a root canal.
Endodontists are sometimes called root canal specialists. Endodontists must complete dental school and two or three years of training.
The practice of endodontists focuses on problems with the tooth pulp and nerves. A large part of the endodonist’s practice is devoted to performing root canals.
Some endodonists consult for hospitals when there is tooth or facial trauma. The endodondist may check the viability of a tooth or help surgeons determine the best course of action for facial reconstructive surgery in which the jaw, teeth, or gums are involved.
Some dentists perform root canals as long as the root canal is not complex. Many people have tooth roots that are shaped unusually or joined together. A dentist may feel more comfortable referring the more difficult root canals to endodontists.
Many dentists will not perform root canals on molars. The x-ray or digital imaging equipment of an endodontist may be better at locating and viewing nerves that are surrounding the tooth that needs a root canal.
Some possible root canal complications include a broken or cracked tooth. Sometimes, the root canal file that the dentist or endodontist uses to clean out the inside of the tooth bends at an awkward angle or at the wrong place and can puncture the side of the tooth.
If the dentist or endodontist fails to clean out the tooth completely, the tooth can become infected again and become discolored. Leaving a tooth infection untreated can cause damage to the surrounding tissue and jawbone.
A root canal that has not cleaned out the entire tooth can cause the person to have to have another root canal. Another possible way for a tooth that had a root canal to develop another infection is if the tooth restoration such as the crown is not completely sealed and allows bacteria to enter the tooth.
People who need to get a root canal typically do not call an endodontist on their own. Their dentist’s office staff helps the patients schedule appointments with the endodontists to whom the dentists refer them.
Most of a dentist’s schedule is filled with routine dental checkups. Root canals cost more than routine dental appointments, so many dentists seek to become endodontists due to the lucrative nature of the business.
The word “endodontist” may be confused with “orthodontist.” An orthodontist is a dental professional who specializes in the alignment of the teeth. People who get braces or Invisalign braces alternative typically go to an orthodontist for these teeth misalignment treatments.