Endodontics is a Greek word where "endo" means “inside” while "odont" means “tooth.” Hence it’s about the dental specialty that is concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of the inside of teeth. An endodontist is a dental specialist with high skills in diagnosing and treating tooth pain. They get additional training, and their field of interest is about diagnosing and treating root canals and all kinds of tooth pain that is related to the interior of the tooth. Endodontists can be called teeth savers because they are specialists in repairing tissues inside teeth and are highly trained for saving a diseased tooth.

What Do Endodontists Do? Endodontists focus on complex tooth problems that are affecting your tooth pulp and root issues causing tooth pain. They save even severely damaged teeth. They treat all kinds of tooth infections by performing root canals, traumatic dental injury treatments, and endodontic surgeries. They focus solely on the inside of the tooth pulp cavity, which is in the root of the tooth, and their extra training of two to three years helps them to perform special ways of treatment for saving a decayed or infected tooth. So simply, it means that they can perform more treatments on inside tooth pain than a general dentist.

Why Do I Need To See An Endodontist? Endodontists are committed to saving your smile by maintaining its natural health. It’s important to take care of your teeth. Many people don’t know why or when they should see an endodontist. Outlined below are a few reasons to make an appointment.

-Pain: In some cases of tooth pain, a general dentist can diagnose and do some procedures to cure pain. However, if the dental discomfort is persistent, then endodontic treatment is necessary. The deeper toothache indicates a sense of serious infection in the roots, which may need a root canal or more advanced procedures. The dental specialist will find the cause of the toothache and will cure it on time.

-Root canal: If you are recommended for a root canal by your dentist, and your tooth keeps hurting, then it’s time to meet a specialist. A root canal is a very delicate procedure, so it’s important to cure it on time. An endodontist usually performs about 25 root canals per week, so they will use precise and advanced techniques to perform root canals according to the patient’s health.

-History of injury: If you have a history of injury to the specific tooth, then a specialist is more suitable to visit. Long-term tooth injury may require more extensive therapy, such as a root canal or oral surgery. Endodontists are professional dentists with deep knowledge of certain types of tooth injuries. The history of injuries or pain may include multiple dental damages, crown placement, dental fillings, multiple cavities, cracked or broken teeth, or multiple root canals.

-Toothache after a procedure: If you are experiencing dental discomfort after the treatment procedures, dental filling, or root canal, then make an appointment with a specialist to cure the reason for the toothache. Never delay dental treatment after the surgery.

-Damaged, decayed, or lost tooth: If your tooth is significantly cracked, broken, or decayed, then these are the signs of meeting a dental specialist because they are skillful in treating all these conditions that affect the root of the tooth or pulp. If you are facing any inner tooth injury or tooth loss, then meet a specialist as soon as possible.

What Procedures Does An Endodontist Perform? It is very important to understand the treatment procedures related to your teeth. There are many treatment procedures adopted by dental specialists for repairing damaged teeth. A good dental professional will solve all your queries related to the treatment procedure. The right treatment procedure will keep your smile everlasting. Dental surgery procedures save your tooth from decay. A specialist will choose the best treatment procedure according to the individual case. The specialized treatment causes the best outcomes and fast healing. Endodontists perform the following multiple procedures:

-Root canal treatment: This method is about removing the infected or damaged tissues and tooth pulp. The tooth is resealed after the procedure for preventing infection. This is the best way to save a decayed tooth.

-Endodontic retreatment: In this case, the affected teeth are reopened. The filling material is removed that was placed in the root canal during the first procedure in case it doesn’t heal properly and replaced by another material.

-Endodontic surgery: This is used to detect small fractures that were left undetected during previous treatment, such as apicoectomy (removal of the tip or end of a tooth’s root). Emergency dental surgery involves the treatment of different tooth infections and complex dental surgeries.

-Traumatic dental injuries: These dental injuries usually result in accidents or sports injuries. Treatment depends on the type of injury. Specialists use specific techniques to treat these injuries.

-Tooth extraction surgeries: If dental tissues are highly infected and damaged, then tooth extraction surgery is performed to avoid infection in the surrounding tooth area.

Can You See An Endodontist Without A Referral? Dentists and dental specialists have a professional network and recommendations according to patient needs. A dentist can see the source of dental pain and refer them to a specialist for dental surgery. In the medical field, it is important to see a specialist from your doctor’s recommendation, but in the dental field, it is not important to wait for a reference from a general dentist to meet a specialist. You can call them directly in case of any tooth injury. However, it’s better to see your dentist first, and in case of severe injury, you are referred to a dental specialist.