You're probably already familiar with who your general dentist is. All dentists are trained to administer conventional root canal treatment, which involves the use of small hand files to remove infected pulp from the inside of the tooth. By limiting their practice to endodontics, endodontists focus exclusively on dental pulp treatments. They complete an average of 25 root canal treatments per week, while general dentists usually do two.
Endodontists don't place fillings or clean teeth, but instead spend their time diagnosing and treating tooth pain. They are specialists who are experts in finding the cause of oral and facial pain that has been difficult to diagnose. Do all dentists perform endodontics? All dentists have been trained in endodontic treatments for many years, including a general dentist. A general practitioner has the ability to perform root canal treatment in conjunction with any other procedure related to dental problems.
However, many would recommend seeing a specialist for any endodontic treatment. While general dentists are more than capable of treating root canals, it may be best to visit an endodontist just to make sure. They train in the pulp area of the tooth, which is where the root canals live. Simple root canals can be performed by a general or family dentist.
However, if the canal has a complex enough anatomy to make finding, navigating or accessing the root difficult, it may require the contact of an endodontist. Endodontists are specialist dentists who focus on dental pulp disorders and specialize in treatments such as root canals. Endodontists receive significantly more specialized training and have more years of experience. An endodontist is also recommended for teeth with more than one channel, such as molars.
