Root canal therapy is the most common type of endodontic procedure performed today. The procedure is necessary for dental patients who have an infection in one of their teeth and is performed to eliminate the infection so that the tooth can return to working as it should. After the patient receives a local anesthetic, the endodontist will make a small hole in the tooth and then remove all the infection from the inside. They will then clean the tooth, fill it with special dental material, and seal it, completing the root canal procedure. Endodontists also carry out a procedure called endodontic surgery (also known as apical surgery or apicectomy).
During this surgery, the infected root tip (apex) is removed, along with the surrounding tissue. Endodontic surgery is used when a tooth has not responded to root canal treatment or retreatment. In some cases, endodontic surgery may be recommended for patients who are not suitable for a root canal procedure. If you think you may have a dental abscess, an endodontist can evaluate the signs and symptoms to determine if this is the case. The American Association of Endodontists estimates that less than three percent of U.
S. dentists are endodontists. But what procedures do endodontists perform? The most common one is root canal treatment. While some general dentists perform root canal treatments, the average dentist performs only two endodontists per week, while the average endodontist performs 25. The procedure also requires an endodontist to make a small incision in the gums to access the root of the tooth. The list below includes three of the most common types of endodontic procedures that endodontists perform on their patients today.
According to the American Association of Endodontists, endodontists have completed two or more additional years of training beyond dental school, allowing them to focus on diagnosing tooth pain and treating root canals and other procedures related to the inside of the tooth. Although endodontists are specialists in saving teeth, meaning they are trained to perform root canal treatments and other procedures to save the tooth, they will analyze all treatment options to determine which is best for each patient and individual case. Learning more about the different types of endodontic procedures that an endodontist can perform on his patients allows you to understand whether or not you need this type of dental professional. The most common procedure associated with root canal treatment is root canal treatment itself, but there are a few other procedures that endodontists also perform. You may need to be referred to a dental specialist such as an endodontist to explore all your options for getting the best possible care.
The only way to know if you need endodontic services is to schedule an appointment with an endodontist so that you can undergo a full oral evaluation. There are several different categories for fractured teeth, and depending on which category your cracked tooth falls into, an endodontist will decide what type of treatment they need to repair your cracked tooth.
