Your dentist in Mount Vernon, NY will refer you to their endodontist for root canals. But that's not all they're trained to do; here's why you might need them.
Dealing with an intense toothache is one of the scariest and most painful dental-related issues that patients face. Fortunately, endodontists can help perform root canals and other procedures to relieve your pain.
These highly skilled specialists perform an average of
25 root canals every week, while standard dentists perform an average of two per week.
Read on to learn more about how an endodontist can help you, and how they perform other procedures in addition to root canals.
What Is an Endodontist and What Do They Do?
If you're looking for a highly specialized dentist, then an endodontist can help. These skilled specialists focus on solving complicated dental issues that mostly affect the tooth pulp, which is the inside of the teeth.
An endodontist is considered a root canal specialist since they have specific training that focuses on performing this procedure. The endodontist uses advanced techniques that treat both the tooth pulp and the root.
Most importantly, the goal of an endodontist is to help save your teeth and preserve them for as long as possible. These dental specialists look for ways to relieve patient pain while keeping the natural affected tooth intact.
Every endodontist is also a dentist, but less than three percent of dentists have done the additional training required to become an endodontist. At least two more years of focused dental training are required, with a focus on learning new techniques to diagnose and treat tooth pain.
You may hear endodontists being called root canal dentists. That's because they perform this procedure much more often than standard dentists thanks to their higher level of expertise.
Treating Tooth Issues
Endodontists are dental specialists that primarily treat the pulp, or the interior tissue, of the teeth. They also focus on any root-related issues that may cause serious problems like dental pain.
The goal of an endodontist is to look for signs of tooth decay that may be caused by
too much plaque or an untreated cavity. They also diagnose and treat abscessed teeth. An abscessed tooth occurs when pus builds up and forms bacteria that get inside of the teeth and/or gums.
Your endodontist can also treat tooth injuries due to trauma, such as a sports injury or a hard fall. If a crack in the tooth extends to the pulp tissue, an endodontist can determine whether there are treatment options available that will keep the tooth intact.
These professionals have specialized training that helps them
diagnose more complex dental issues. Dental x-rays are taken to get a clearer view of the tooth's structure.
The endodontist can determine tooth sensitivity by touching the affected tooth with a hot or cold swab. Tapping on your teeth can also provide clues about which tooth is affected or how bad the inflammation is based on sensitivity.
When to Schedule an Appointment
Not all dental issues require the expertise of an endodontist. But it's important to call your dentist ASAP if you're experiencing any form of tooth pain so they can assess the issue.
If you have lingering pain or sudden, unexpected pain in the mouth or jaw, you should schedule an appointment right away. Teeth that are sensitive to hot or cold foods and drinks could be cracked or damaged. If you have any swelling near the affected teeth or gums, then you'll need to see your dentist in Mount Vernon NY as soon as possible.
When tooth pain is left untreated, it lowers the chances of an endodontist being able to save your natural tooth. If you are experiencing fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or redness and swelling in your mouth, then you could have an infection. Never ignore these signs if you're concerned about your dental health.
Other Ways an Endodontist Can Help You
Aside from root canal treatment, there are other ways that an endodontist can help you with dental pain or infection. First, they can remove and replace any material used during a previous root canal that did not heal properly. This is known as
endodontic retreatment.
Endodontists can also perform emergency dental surgery that may require addressing complicated dental injuries or treating an extreme tooth infection. These professionals can also extract any teeth if and when the tissue is too damaged to be saved.
The endodontist can also perform dental implant surgery. This is performed by surgically placing an implant to support various prosthetics like bridges that restore the look of your natural teeth after one has been removed.
Specialized surgery like an apicoectomy involves removing the end or tip of a tooth's root. This is called endodontic surgery and should always be performed by a skilled endodontist. The goal is to diagnose and treat the complex causes of tooth pain so you can get back to living a normal, pain-free life.
Most people want to be able to keep their natural teeth whenever possible. Thanks to the specialized skill of an endodontist, patients have an opportunity to get the treatment they need while leaving their teeth intact.
Get Diagnosed and Treated Today
It's important that you never leave tooth or gum pain to chance. When you schedule an appointment with an
endodontist, you'll receive a thorough diagnosis and the treatment you need to keep your natural teeth in place.
If you're experiencing tooth pain or need some help addressing dental issues, be sure to
get in touch with us to
schedule your appointment today so we can help.
