Have You Wondered What an Endodontist Does?

Endodontists fulfill a vital role in your oral health. Think of them as specialists you go to when you are concerned with your teeth’ interior pulp or tissues. In fact, endodontists can save your teeth with treatment. If your dentist recommends any of the following treatments, you should see an endodontist who can give you the best care possible through their additional training and specialization.

Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is the most common procedure endodontists perform. This treatment can save a tooth that has an inflamed or infected root. While a general dentist may be capable of doing this procedure, you will get the best care from an endodontist. The extra training and specialized equipment at an endodontist’s office can make a root canal less painful and reduce the chances of complications.

During this treatment, the endodontist will remove the infected or inflamed tissues and clean out the tooth’s interior. To prevent infection and ensure the fastest healing, they will disinfect and shape the root canal to accommodate the filling that seals the tooth.

Properly done root canal treatments can alleviate pain caused by damage to the nerve tissues. This procedure can prevent you from needing to have the tooth removed and the subsequent problems caused by a gap in your teeth.

Endodontic Retreatment

Occasionally, healing after root canal treatment does not proceed as expected, and you will require retreatment. Reasons that you may need retreatment can include the following:

• Lost or damaged crown or filling
• Fractured tooth
• New exposure of the root canal filling from additional decay
• Contamination from saliva during the initial treatment
• Delayed placement of the crown after a root canal treatment
• Improperly cleaned and disinfected root canals during the initial treatment

Needing to have endodontic retreatment does not mean that the original procedure failed or the endodontist did not do their job. Some people have complicated anatomy or extra narrow canals inside a treated tooth that the dentist may not have located or been capable of cleaning effectively. In other instances, future damage near the treated area will require retreatment.

Getting endodontic retreatment can ease discomfort caused by exposure of the area to bacteria and infection. Therefore, the sooner you schedule your procedure with an endodontist, the sooner you can feel better.

Dental Injuries

Broken, chipped, or knocked-out teeth can cause damage to the delicate tooth pulp. Hence, these types of injuries fall into answering the question of what procedures does an endodontist performs.

The endodontist will need to evaluate your tooth’s damage because if a chip exposed the tissue, you could need a root canal to clear out any bacteria that could also have gotten into your tooth.

For a knocked-out tooth, preserve the tooth in milk and get to an endodontist within 30 minutes to give yourself the best chance of saving your tooth. You may need to wear a brace on your teeth to hold the lost tooth in place for a few weeks until it stabilizes. The endodontist may recommend a root canal after a week or two to prevent internal decay, inflammation, or infection.

If you have a cracked or split tooth, an endodontist may still save part of the tooth, depending on the damage. The only way to know is to schedule a visit with an endodontist to evaluate your tooth and its internal structures. However, in some instances, you may still need a tooth extraction. The endodontist may recommend an implant to replace the pulled tooth.

Endodontic Surgery

Endodontic surgery encompasses a variety of procedures designed to help save a tooth. With the newest advances in microsurgery and anesthetics, these procedures are not as painful as most people fear.

One type of surgery that an endodontist may perform is an apicoectomy. You may need this procedure following a root canal if you still have inflammation in the area. During this procedure, the endodontist will numb the area and expose the tooth by gently moving the area’s gum tissue. They can then access the end of the tooth to remove any remaining inflamed tissue or infected parts. They will remove a small portion of the root end, fill the area, and stitch it closed. Despite the complicated nature of this procedure, you may only feel minor discomfort the following day, when you can return to your regular activities.

Request a Referral to Our Endodontic Practice for Any of the Above Treatments

You only have one set of adult teeth to last you for the rest of your life! When you ask, “What procedures does an endodontist perform,” the answer is always treatments to save your teeth. All types of care from an endodontist give you the greatest likelihood of keeping your original teeth for your whole life. If your dentist suggests pulling a tooth, ask instead if you can get endodontic treatment to try to save it. We highly recommend seeing an endodontist for a second opinion before you have your tooth pulled. 

If you live in Moncks Corner, SC, or the surrounding areas, contact us at Innovative Endodontics for more information. You can also show your dentist our site, so they can easily set up an online referral for you.

Our team uses the latest technology and the best practices to help save your teeth. We want to see you smile from our professionalism, service, and with healthier teeth. Make us your first choice for when your dentist recommends endodontic treatments.