What is an Endodontist and what do they do?

Endodontists are dentists who specialize in maintaining teeth through endodontic therapy —procedures, involving the soft inner tissue of the teeth, called the pulp.  The word "endodontic" comes from "endo" meaning inside and "odont" meaning tooth.  Like many medical terms, it's Greek.  All dentists are trained in diagnosis and endodontic therapy, however, some teeth can be especially difficult to diagnose and treat.  That’s why you may have been referred to an endodontic specialist.

In addition to dental school, endodontists receive two or more years of advanced education in this kind of treatment. They study root canal techniques and procedures in greater depth, for diagnosis and treatment of more difficult cases. For this reason, many dentists choose to refer their patients to endodontists.

What happens during an endodontic treatment?

A local anesthetic will be given.  A sheet of nylon called the "rubber dam" will be placed around the tooth to isolate it, hence keeping it clean and dry during treatment.  The treatment consists of three or four basic steps, but the number of visits will depend on your particular case.  Treatments typically take 1 or 2 visits.

In any case, it depends on the degree of infection/inflammation and degree of treatment difficulty.  Root canal or endodontic therapy typically has a very high degree of success. The prognosis of your particular tooth will be discussed after your exam, before any endodontic procedure is started to help you make an informed decision on your treatment options.

Will I experience pain during or after the procedure?

Most patients report that they are comfortable during endodontic treatment. After treatment the tooth may be sensitive and you may experience slight discomfort for a few days, often patients experience no post-op sensitivity. However, we will give you post-op instructions regarding your root canal and which medications will relieve this pain. If you experience severe pain or pain that lasts longer than a few days contact our office.

Will I need to return to your office after the endodontic treatment?

Once endodontic therapy is completed your tooth should be examined periodically, usually every 6 - 12 months.  This allows us to make sure the tooth has healed or is healing properly.  You will be called or sent a notice in the mail when we feel it is appropriate to re-evaluate the area.