An endodontist is a dental specialist that focuses on the inner-most part of your tooth called the dental pulp. The term comes from the Greek words “endo” meaning inside and “-dont” meaning tooth.

You should seek out this professional if you experience unexplained pain in your mouth or jaw, or redness and swelling that expands to your cheek. They perform procedures that relieve pain while saving your natural teeth.

They Value Natural Teeth

Seeing an endodontist is similar to visiting your primary care physician (PCP) for annual checkups. However, your PCP only treats external symptoms of health issues, while an endodontist performs procedures to treat the inside of your teeth.

During root canal treatment, your endodontist removes the infected dental pulp, cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth, and then fills and seals it. This restores the natural appearance and function of the tooth while avoiding the need for dental implants or bridges.

As specialists in saving natural teeth, endodontists are committed to preserving your smile. They use specialized training, perfected techniques, and advanced technologies like x-rays and operating microscopes to diagnose problems and provide treatments that minimize the impact on your smile.

They Perform Root Canals

An endodontist can clear out severe issues in your teeth and roots with a root canal treatment. This dentist can perform this procedure better than your general dentist because it is their focus and specialty. They also have more experience performing the procedure. An average endodontist does 25 or more root canal treatments per week, which gives them a lot of practice.

During the root canal treatment, the area will be anesthetized. They will then drill a small hole into the crown of the tooth. Then they will remove any injured or infected tissue from the chamber and root canals. Then the space will be cleaned, shaped, and filled with gutta-percha. Then it will be sealed to prevent recontamination.

Some signs that you need a root canal include pain when chewing, sensitivity to hot or cold, or a persistent infection. Call your dental provider to schedule an appointment if you experience any of these symptoms.

They Treat Cracked Teeth

Seeing an endodontist as soon as possible decreases the chance that the crack will worsen, requiring more extensive restorative treatments. If a tooth is cracked, symptoms include pain, tenderness around the affected area, or swelling of the gums.

An endodontist uses gloved hands and magnifying tools to examine the damaged area of your mouth and face, taking X-rays of the area. Then they test your pulp for signs of infection, perform periapical tests to evaluate bite issues and look for any tooth structural abnormalities.

A fractured cusp is a tooth break that happens around a dental filling and doesn’t affect the root. Depending on whether the crack remains above the gum line, an endodontist may be able to save it with a root canal or crown. A split tooth is a more serious issue that requires root canal treatment or extraction. If the crack isn’t treated, it can get worse and erode the inside of your tooth.

They Treat Tooth Pain

An endodontist treats a variety of dental conditions, but most people see them when they have an inflamed or infected tooth pulp. The pulp is the innermost part of a tooth, which contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. It can become inflamed or infected due to deep decay, a cracked tooth, or repeated dental procedures on the same tooth. This results in sensitivity to hot or cold foods, pain when biting pressure and swelling of the gums.

If left untreated, an infected or swollen tooth pulp will cause a dental abscess, a painful condition that occurs when bacteria enters a crack and begins to eat away at the roots of the tooth. This can be extremely painful and often leads to a tooth’s death.

The best way to prevent this is to see an endodontist when you first notice signs of trouble. Their specialized training and advanced technology make them masters at root canal treatment, apicoectomy, treatment of cracked teeth, and managing dental trauma.