What Specialist is Qualified to Perform Root Canal Therapy?

What Specialist is Qualified to Perform Root Canal Therapy?

March 1, 2022

Root canal therapy is a procedure to clean and save a tooth that has been damaged or infected by the surrounding tissues. The specialist qualified to perform root canal therapy are called endodontists. They are trained to diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and other conditions of the teeth and surrounding oral tissues.

What is the Root Canal?

A root canal is a dental procedure that removes infected or damaged tissue from inside the tooth. The treatment is done to save the tooth and prevent infection from spreading.

Our teeth have three layers— enamel, dentin, and the pulp cavity. The pulp cavity has nerves and blood vessels that nourish the teeth. The pulp can get infected due to bacterial infection and repeated dental procedures. The infection can cause pain, swelling, and destruction of the tooth. Worse still, it can spread to the surrounding tissues and enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation.

Getting endodontics near you can help remove the infected pulp, stop the spread of the infection and save the tooth from extraction.

What Does Root Canal Procedure Involve?

Getting Root canal therapy in Wynnewood, PA, requires one or two dental visits. The dentist starts the procedure by performing a comprehensive dental assessment of your teeth. The purpose is to check the condition of the teeth, gums, and jaw and the severity of the infection.

The endodontist will drill into the tooth, clean and shape the inside of the tooth. He will fill it with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha which helps seal the tooth.

Who Performs the Root Canal Procedure?

While general dentists can perform root canal procedures, it is advisable to visit an endodontist.

Endodontists are dental specialists who specialize in treating the inside of the tooth. They are trained to diagnose, treat and manage diseases, injuries, and defects of the teeth and surrounding structures.

After the undergraduate dental education, they get a two-year training. They are trained in diagnosing and treating infections and diseases that affect the teeth and tissues.

General Dentist vs. Endodontist; What is the Difference?

General dentists are trained to provide preventive, restorative, and dental care for patients of all ages. They can do everything from fillings to extractions.

Endodontists focus on the pulp chamber, root canal system, and associated structures within the tooth. They work on teeth that have been damaged by decay or injury.

What Other Treatments Do Endodontists Perform?

Endodontists offer several treatments other than root canal treatment, and they include:

  • Endodontic retreatment 

Teeth that had root canal treatment can last for years without an issue. However, there are times when reinfection can occur on the affected tooth. This usually occurs because of worn-out dental fillings or multiple canals. The dentist can miss some of the canals during the first treatment, and this can trigger an infection.

When reinfection occurs, the endodontist will perform retreatment to relieve pain.

  • endodontic surgery 

Sometimes a nonsurgical treatment may not be enough to address the issue, and you may need a surgical procedure. The endodontist can perform the procedure to detect and address tiny fractures on the teeth. He may also recommend the treatment to remove calcium deposits. The treatment, though scary, is painless because the dentist will use modern and digital equipment to perform the surgery.

  • Traumatic dental injury treatment 

After an accident or dental injury, it is recommended you visit a dentist or endodontist for immediate treatment. The endodontist can perform a tooth extraction if the teeth are severely damaged.

  • Dental implants

Teeth implants are recommended after tooth extraction to restore the missing teeth. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots surgically placed in the jawbone to anchor the teeth. They are made of titanium, which is biocompatible and non-toxic. They are designed to be stable in the bone for many years without causing significant bone loss around the implant site.

When Should Visit An Endodontist?

If you have any of the following, you should set up a dental appointment with an endodontist:

  • Lingering tooth sensitivity
  • Darkening gums
  • Tender and painful gums
  • Loosening teeth

Visit Wynnewood Dental Arts for more information about root canal therapy in Wynnewood, PA, how it is performed and what you can expect.

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