General Information

An Endodontist is a dentist who specializes in saving teeth through endodontic therapy – procedures, involving the soft inner tissue of the teeth, called the pulp, and diagnosing facial pain and related problems. The word "endodontic" comes from "endo" meaning inside and "odont" meaning tooth. Like many medical terms, it's Greek. All dentists are trained to diagnose and treat endodontic problems. However, some teeth can be especially difficult to diagnose and treat, and oral pain such as toothaches or cracked/fractured teeth can often be challenging to pinpoint.  Because of the vast network of nerves in the mouth, the pain of a damaged or diseased tooth often is felt in another tooth and/or in the head, neck or ear. An Endodontist is the specialist that will diagnose and treat this type of pain. In addition to dental school, Endodontists have undergone a minimum of two additional years of postgraduate specialty training. They study root canal techniques and procedures in greater depth, for diagnosis and treatment of more difficult cases. To provide patients with the most predictable and successful outcome, many dentists choose to refer their patients to an Endodontist.

A root canal is one of the most common dental procedures performed, with well over 14 million done every year. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need for dental implants or bridges.

At the center of your tooth is the pulp. The pulp is a collection of blood vessels, nerve tissue and other cells that help to build the surrounding tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks and chips, or repeated dental procedures. 

What are the signs that I may need root canal treatment (RCT)?

Signs of pulp damage include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, swelling, gum tenderness, and/or discoloration of the tooth. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms when a pulp degenerates, and a dental examination and x-rays may only detect it. If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend non-surgical treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp.