Who Are Endodontists?
Endodontists are dental specialists who focus on diagnosing and treating dental pulp and root canal-related conditions. An endodontist is a dentist with additional training beyond general dentistry who focuses on performing endodontic procedures like root canal therapy, treating oral infections, and managing dental pain.
They are adept at diagnosing and treating complex dental problems using cutting-edge technologies such as digital imaging and microscopes.
Endodontic treatment aims to preserve the patient’s natural teeth. They do this by removing infected or damaged dental pulp, cleaning and shaping the root canals, and sealing them to prevent further infection. Their expertise is maintaining dental health through root canal therapy and related procedures.
The 5 Most Common Endodontic Procedures
The following are five of the most common endodontic procedures:
Root Canal Therapy
Endodontists’ primary form of treatment is root canal therapy. Root canal therapy treats infected or injured dental pulp caused by severe decay, trauma, or other causes.
Endodontists remove infected pulp, clean and shape root canals, then fill and seal them with biocompatible material. By reducing discomfort and infection, this procedure prevents the need to extract the natural tooth.
Endodontic Retreatment
Occasionally, a tooth that has already received endodontic treatment might develop new issues or fail to recover correctly. In order to resolve these problems, endodontic retreatment is done. The endodontist removes the current root canal filling, cleans the canals again, and analyzes the tooth for any underlying issues.
Once again, the endodontist fills and then seals the canals. Endodontic retreatment provides a second opportunity to save a tooth that would otherwise need extraction.
Apicoectomy
An endodontist performs an apicoectomy, sometimes called root-end surgery when traditional root canal therapy is insufficient. It is often used to treat persistent infections or problems in the tooth’s root tip (apex).
During the operation, the endodontist removes infected or damaged tissue from the root tip, cleans the area, and closes it with a filling material. This treatment aids in the removal of infection and promotes healing.
Dental Trauma Management
Endodontists have expertise in treating dental trauma, including cracked or dislocated teeth brought on by accidents or traumas.
They choose the best course of action after assessing the amount of damage and the vitality of the tooth. This may involve splinting the tooth, root canal therapy, or other procedures to restore the tooth’s function and aesthetics.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Tooth Pain
Endodontists are experts at determining the source of tooth pain, which can be challenging to pinpoint. They use clinical evaluation, imaging like X-rays, and other diagnostic methods to determine the pain’s cause.
Once diagnosed, the endodontist creates a specific treatment plan to relieve the pain, including root canal therapy, medication, or other relevant treatments.
It’s crucial to remember that these operations are just a few of the various services endodontists perform. Furthermore, they treat dental infections, damaged teeth, and pulp testing to determine teeth vitality.
Overall, endodontists are essential in keeping natural teeth and ensuring oral health. They reduce pain, save teeth, and restore dental function by treating dental pulp and root canal problems.
Call us at ORIS Dental Clinics in Richmond Hill, Ontario and ask away any questions you have from our skilled endodontists!
