Wisdom tooth extraction is a common reason for visiting an endodontist, especially for younger patients. Endodontists and oral surgeons are both important members of the dental team, but they specialize in different areas. Endodontists focus on micro-operations inside the teeth, while oral surgeons specialize in larger repairs and restorations of the face and mouth. In some cases, the urgency of the situation will determine whether you need to see an endodontist or an oral surgeon.For instance, if you have delayed root canal therapy for too long and the infection has spread, you may need to see an oral surgeon to have your tooth removed and an implant placed in your jaw.
If your dentist recommends treatment to save your natural tooth, remove root canal treatment, or preserve a damaged tooth, you need to see an endodontist. Don't wait too long to get endodontic therapy, as endodontists may not be able to save a tooth if the infection or damage has progressed too far. If you experience dull, throbbing pain with extreme sensitivity to chewing and extreme temperatures, it could be a sign of an abscessed wisdom tooth that needs to be treated right away. Your endodontist can determine if root canal therapy is necessary. If it is, you can expect your tooth to last for many years with no pain. Oral surgeons perform larger-scale surgeries than endodontists.
They remove wisdom teeth and other impacted teeth or molars, as well as perform cosmetic and functional cosmetic surgery such as cleft palate repair. If someone has been in a car accident and their jaw is broken, they will need an oral surgeon. In some cases, whether you need to work with an endodontist or an oral surgeon will depend on how long you have been in your case. Many procedures performed by oral surgeons require general anesthesia, while procedures performed by endodontists often use local anesthetics. Endodontists use high-tech imaging equipment to guide them before microsurgery and dental surgical microscopes during surgery for excellent visibility.
Therefore, the types of surgeries performed by oral surgeons generally focus on larger areas than those in which endodontists work. If you have a cracked or broken tooth, you may need an oral surgeon or endodontist to treat it. If you receive treatment sooner, you may need less extreme intervention and an endodontist will be your first line of defense. The endodontist will remove the infected tissues along with the diseased part at the root end of the tooth. You can see an endodontist for treatment if you have extreme tooth sensitivity that doesn't go away, a broken tooth, toothache, or swollen gums. Unlike dentists, both oral surgeons and endodontists have completed specialized training in different areas of the dental field.
Your dentist may want an endodontist to examine an anterior root canal that has been performed, followed by any additional dentistry such as a dental crown on top.