When it comes to dental health, it is important to understand the different dental professionals and their specializations. While general dentists handle a wide range of dental concerns, endodontic professionals specialize in the health of the dental pulp and surrounding tissues. This is just one of many ways in which dentists and endodontists differ. Read on to explore the unique qualities of each practice.
How Do Dentists and Endodontists Differ?
The Role of a General Dentist
A general dentist is like a primary care physician. They are typically the first medical professionals patients see for dental problems.
Preventive Care
This includes regular dental visits for checkups, cleanings, and fluoride treatments. They also educate patients about proper oral hygiene and how to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other oral health problems.
Diagnostic Services
Dentists diagnose problems such as cavities, gum disease, and oral infections using X-rays, dental exams, and other diagnostic tests.
Restorative Procedures
General dentists perform restorative procedures such as fillings, crowns, bridges, and dentures to restore teeth’ function.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Many general dentists also practice cosmetic dentistry and offer cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening, veneers, and bonding to enhance patients’ smiles.
Basic Oral Surgery
General dentists perform minor surgical procedures, such as extractions and biopsies. However, they refer patients to specialists for more complex surgeries.
The Role of Endodontists
An endodontist is similar to a general dentist. However, unlike general dentists, endodontists are specialists who have undergone additional training beyond dental school to focus on issues related to the dental pulp and root canals.
Specialized Training
Endodontists undergo an additional two to three years of training. The focus of this advanced education is the diagnosis and treatment of tooth pain. They also receive special training on root canal surgery procedures.
Root Canal Procedure
Sometimes, when the dental pulp becomes infected and inflamed, root canal procedures must be performed. As experts in this field, endodontists are the ones patients go to for this procedure. Root canal treatment is the most common procedure performed by endodontists.
Problematic Cases
Aside from performing root canal procedures, endodontists also address and treat failed root canal procedures and perform apicoectomies when necessary.
Pain Management
As experts in treating tooth pain, endodontists are also called on when it comes to pain management. They are highly skilled in pain management techniques, ensuring that patients experience minimal pain and the least amount of discomfort during and after procedures.
Traumatic Injuries
Traumatic dental injuries can be harrowing, and endodontists can help address that pain not only with pain management techniques but also through treatment, whether the pain is caused by a broken tooth, cracked or chipped tooth, or a tooth that has been knocked off.
The Collaboration Between General Dentists and Endodontists
Your trusted dentist works in collaboration with endodontists to provide patients with comprehensive quality dental care. Your dentist will refer you to an endodontist when your case requires specialized treatment. This collaborative approach enables dental patients to get the best possible care and treatment.
To illustrate, if your dentist notices a deep cavity that has reached the tooth’s pulp, they usually refer the patient to an endodontist for root canal treatment. After the root canal treatment, endodontists usually send the patients back to their general dentists for the installation of a crown.
When dentists cannot detect any reason for a patient’s complaint of severe, consistent pain, they also refer patients to an endodontist.
Signs that You Should Visit an Endodontist
- Severe tooth pain that does not go away
- Significantly damaged or decayed tooth
- Chipped, broken, cracked tooth
- Swelling around the tooth, gums, or face
- Knocked out tooth
When you experience severe tooth pain and infection, an endodontist’s services can be crucial for your oral and dental health to return to normal. Because endodontists have received specialized training and have more experience in treating complicated cases, they can ensure that patients have the most effective and precise care. Using advanced techniques and technologies, they can save teeth that may otherwise need to be extracted, providing pain relief and restoring the patient’s smile.
Talk to an Endodontist Today
Understanding the differences between your regular dentist and an endodontist can help ensure that you get the best and most effective treatment and care for your problem, saving you time and providing you with faster relief from pain and anxiety. If you are suffering from severe pain and swelling, or if you identify with the signs listed above, do not hesitate to book an appointment with an endodontist today.