When do you need to see an endodontist?
Your dentist may refer you to an endodontist, an expert in saving teeth . While all endodontist are dentists, less than three percent of dentists are endodontists . Just like a doctor in any other field, endodontist are specialists after completing two or more years of specialized training beyond dental school. The additional training focuses on diagnosing tooth pain and performing root canal treatment. In many cases, a diseased tooth can be saved with endodontic treatment.
What can I expect during my visit with an endodontist?
An endodontist will use state-of-the-art technologies such as operating microscopes, digital imaging and other specialized tools to diagnose and treat you. The procedure involves making a small hole in the affected tooth, removing the infection or dead pulp tissue, replacing it with biocompatible filler, and sealing the tooth against reinfection. It is done using local anesthesia and tiny dental instruments. Depending on the condition of the tooth and surrounding bone, your treatment may involve more than one visit.
Disregard the MYTHS!
Root canal treatment rarely causes anything more than temporary minor discomfort; yet it generally relieves the acute pain of inflammed pulp. The treatment by an endodontist has a success rate of about 95 percent ~ which often means saving a tooth that might otherwise have been lost.