Endodontists are similar to dentists but focus on tooth pain, disease, and infection. It’s essential to know how we work so you can figure out when the best time to visit us will be for yourself. If you are looking for endodontic services in Roslyn Heights NY, we can help you.
What is an endodontist?
An endodontist is a specialist dentist with areas of expertise in fixing tooth pain, disease, and infection. Endodontists have more specific skill sets than dentists and require more training that helps to diagnose tooth pain. Endodontists can also perform root canals, which are procedures designed to save and repair infected or decaying teeth.
Endodontists work with the area known as the “tooth pulp,” which is the area inside a tooth containing the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue.
When should you see them?
Sometimes, the choice to see an endodontist isn’t your own and may be something that your general dentist refers you to. If this is the case, one of the following reasons might have led to their recommendation:
- Tooth pain
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
- Bacterial infection
- Tooth injury
- Chipped and/or fractured teeth
Any of the above issues may be too difficult for a general dentist to work with on short notice. That’s why it’s important to visit an endodontist and get the specialist treatment that’s required for each of the above. Generally, you’ll be experiencing some pretty unpleasant sensations, so the quicker we can work with you to fix the problem, the better off you’ll be.
What will they do for you?
Generally, if you’re referred to an endodontist, it’s likely you’re there for a root canal procedure. It’s the most common thing to expect when you visit one, so it would help to know what you will go through if you get one.
A root canal allows the patients to go under local anesthesia, which will numb the affected area and allow the dentist to work on your procedure with minimal pain. An endodontist will place a dental dam around your tooth (to prevent interference) and will open the crown of the tooth to remove the pulp.
Once they remove the pulp, they will clean, reshape and enlarge your root canal with small files. This is how an endodontist will treat any of the symptoms you might experience from the previous section.
What training and experience do they have
Beyond dental school, an endodontist will have an extra two or three years of training. The key focus for the extra years of training transitions them over to focusing on diagnosing and treating tooth pain.
The overall training and experience of an endodontist include:
- Four years of dental school
- Two to three years post-graduate residency program
- Exam to become certified by the American Board of Endodontics
- Master of Science in Dentistry
As you can see, the extra time spent learning about tooth pain pays off for endodontists.
Summary
That’s all you need to know about what endodontists can do for you. If your general dentist has recommended you to one, it will help you to take their advice and get your tooth pain sorted quickly.