Is It Better to Have an Endodontist do a Root Canal?

If you need a root canal, you might wonder – is it better to have an endodontist do a root canal?

About Root Canals

Root canals are tooth-saving procedures that address infections deep within the teeth. The procedure also relieves pain caused by an infected or abscessed tooth.

Sturdy tooth roots hold each tooth firmly in the jaw bone. The root canal is actually a structure within the tooth’s roots. Inside the tooth, beneath the layer of white enamel and underlying layer known of dentin, is soft tissue known as pulp. Located deep in the tooth’s roots, pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The main job of pulp is to create the surrounding enamel and dentin when the tooth is developing. After the tooth is mature, it no longer relies on the pulp for nourishment.

However, pulp can become inflamed or infected as the result of a crack, chip, or repeated dental work on a tooth. Injury to a tooth can also cause inflammation and infection. Left untreated, the inflammation or infection can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

Signs you may need a root canal include:

• Moderate to severe pain while biting or chewing
• “Pimples” or bumps on the gums
• A cracked, chipped or otherwise damaged tooth
• Swollen or tender gums
• Lingering sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures, even after the hot or cold product has been removed
• Darkened gums
• Deep decay

About the Root Canal Procedure

Before starting the root canal, the dentist administers local anesthetic to numb the tooth. Next, the dentist makes an opening in the top of the tooth then removes the infected pulp and nerve tissue from the tooth. After cleaning and disinfecting the tooth, the dentist uses a filling to seal the opening to the tooth. The patient will schedule a follow-up appointment for 3 to 7 days later, when they receive a permanent crown to cover the treated tooth.

Following your root canal, your dental professional will provide you with instructions on relieving pain. Your dentist may also recommend that you eat foods that are easy to chew, such as applesauce, yogurt, eggs, and fish. Your endodontist might also recommend avoiding food for a few hours as the anesthesia wears off to reduce your chances of biting your tongue or cheek.

Do root canals hurt?

In the hands of an experienced endodontist, root canal therapy helps alleviate pain. Using modern techniques and anesthetics, most patients feel comfortable during the root canal procedure.

Patients may experience some degree of tooth sensitivity in the first few days following their root canal procedure. This is especially true if there was pain or infection before the patient underwent a root canal. Patients can usually manage discomfort with over-the-count, non-prescription pain relievers. Experienced endodontists can recommend other measures to improve comfort after root canal therapy.

What is an Endodontist?

An endodontist is a dentist with special expertise in performing root canal therapy. Endodontists also specialize in diagnosing and treating tooth pain, disease, and infection.

Is an Endodontist Better?

While a root canal is a generally straightforward procedure, it takes training and experience to perform a root canal successfully. Many dentists have not yet undergone specialized training or performed root canal enough times to perform root canals with confidence.

Diagnosing a tooth infection is not always easy, as simple cavities and other dental problems can sometimes mimic an infection or abscess. Endodontists have the training and experience necessary to diagnose inflammation or infection of a root canal, and can recommend root canal therapy if needed.

Endodontists provide better results

Endodontists who have performed countless root canals have the training and experience necessary to perform the technique with optimal results. Dentists who practice endodontic treatment typically produce excellent results with high success rates.

Endodontists are pain management specialists

Endodontists are also experts in managing dental pain. They use specialized techniques to help patients feel comfortable throughout the root canal procedure. Endodontists are also experts in the administration of numbing medications, especially for those patients who have had past problems getting and staying numb. These root canal experts are also good at helping relieve tooth pain after the root canal procedure.

Endodontists use cutting-edge technologies

Endodontists have the materials and equipment they need to make treatments more comfortable and successful. They may use a dental dam, for example, which is a small sheet of plastic or rubber that isolates the tooth and protects the rest of the patient’s mouth during treatment. They use digital radiographs and 3-D imaging to create detailed pictures of tiny tooth structures so that they can get a better look at the root canals and any related infections. After all, the space inside a root canal is smaller than FDR’s ear on a dime!

If you need a root canal, consult with our team of dentists at Westerville Dental Associates. Every member of our team has extensive training and experience in performing root canals.