Many people are familiar with dentists and what they do. Not as many people are familiar with endodontists or what they do. An endodontist is a dental specialist who focuses on the inside of the tooth. Although general dentists understand the inner workings of teeth, they lack the same expertise as endodontist. This raises the question, why should I see an endodontist? Here are five reasons to see an endodontist:
They are Dental Specialists
Like general dentists, endodontists have completed dental school. Unlike general dentists, however, endodontists complete an addition two or more years of specialized training in endodontics. This endodontic training revolves around diagnosing tooth pain, root canals, and other procedures that can be performed inside the tooth. Essentially, endodontists are root canal specialists and often call themselves specialists in saving teeth.
Root Canals are Routine to Them
Since endodontists focus solely on the inside of the tooth, they only do procedures such as root canals, endodontic surgeries, and traumatic dental injuries. This means that they perform far more root canals than a general dentist. In fact, the American Association of Endodontists notes that the average endodontist performs about 25 root canals a week, while general dentists usually only do about 2. The sheer number of performed root canals alone means that your endodontist will likely have more experience than your general dentist.
Experts at Managing Pain
A large part of endodontics deals with treating pain. As a result, endodontists are highly skilled at identifying and treating sources of tooth pain. Furthermore, they are also able to administer medications to numb their patients, even those who have trouble getting or staying numb. With an endodontist, your root canal or other endodontic treatment will be as comfortable as possible.
Advanced Endodontic Technology
Endodontists use the most advanced endodontic technology to treat teeth. Prior to treatment, endodontists use digital radiography and 3-D imaging techniques to obtain information about the internal structures and infection sites, allowing them to make effective treatment plans. During treatment, they use a dental dam to isolate the affected tooth and protect the rest of your mouth. They also use dental operating microscopes to view and treat the extremely tiny root canals.
Best Treatment Outcomes
The specialized training that endodontists receive, as well as their extensive experience, and use of technology allows them to perform root canals with the best treatment outcomes. Often times this results in less trauma to the tooth and surrounding structures, which means less recovery time and a decreased risk of infection or other post-treatment complications. Additionally, endodontists are more likely to successfully remove all the bacteria from the pulp and root canals, meaning there is a decreased chance of needing root canal retreatment.
As you can see, endodontists are highly skilled when it comes to treating teeth. Their specialized training, daily experience, ability to manage pain, use of technology, and better treatment outcomes are five key reasons why you should see an endodontist. While no one looks forward to a root canal or other endodontic treatment, an endodontist can ensure that you have the best root canal experience possible.
