Differences Between A General Dentist And An Endodontist.

Differences Between A General Dentist And An Endodontist.
October 1, 2021

Cosmetic Dentistry has proven to be of immense benefits in dental health care throughout the last few years. Endodontists offer services for treating tooth pain and also perform root canals, which is a special procedure that is designed to save an infected or decayed tooth. Have you sought to get endodontic treatment near you or do you specifically want endodontic treatment in Clovis? Then you should read to the end of this article.

Endodontists are dentists who specialize in the treatment of tooth pain, tooth disease, and infection. They have specialized training that helps them make an accurate diagnosis and offer adequate treatment.

But you may wonder. Why can’t I just visit my regular dentist, or walk into the nearest dental office to get treatments like root canal treatment? Well, yes, you just can’t walk into any dental clinic because General Dentists do not offer specialized care, as an Endodontist would. What are the differences in their services?

First, What Are The Reasons Why You May Need To See an Endodontist?

Bacterial infection: Bacteria can get into the pulp of a tooth via small openings that are created by tooth decay or trauma. Records indicate that inflammation or bacterial infection of the pulp is the most common reason why people make appointments to see an endodontist.

Tooth injury: When your tooth gets dislodged from its socket or knocked out maybe after an accident, or a fall, or during contact sports, then an endodontist is the best person to place the tooth back in the socket, stabilize it, and then perform a root canal treatment on it.

Chipped or fractured tooth. If a large section of your tooth is missing, thus exposing the pulp to bacteria, then you may need root canal treatment at an Endodontist.

Why Can’t A General Dentist Perform Root Canal Treatment?

Even though it has the name “general”, a General Dentist can only do certain procedures and gets to refer the complex cases to specialists, such as an Endodontist.

Endodontists are specialists because they complete an additional two or more years of training even after graduating from dental school. This additional training enables them to focus on diagnosing tooth pain and root canal treatment and other procedures relating to the interior of the tooth. In many cases, a diseased tooth can be saved with endodontic treatment. For this reason, endodontists proudly refer to themselves as “Specialists in Saving Teeth.”

Endodontic treatment near me? Yes, you can get Endodontic treatment near you if you visit your Dentist in Clovis, CA.

Procedures An Endodontist Performs

Endodontists are sometimes called root canal dentists. This higher volume and additional training translate to endodontists’ higher level of expertise in performing root canal treatment.

Endodontists also specialize in performing other dental surgeries, such as:

Endodontic retreatment: Removes and replaces materials used during a previous root canal that did not heal properly.

Emergency dental surgery: May involve repairing complex dental injuries or treating severe tooth infections.

Tooth extraction (removal) surgery: Pulling a tooth when its tissues are too severely damaged to be saved.

Dental implant surgery: Surgical placement of a dental implant which can then be used to support prosthetics, such as bridges, to restore look and function after a tooth must be removed.

Endodontic Surgery: Specialized surgery, such as apicoectomy (removal of the end, or tip, of a tooth’s root).

What To Expect After Endodontic Care.

The way you feel after an endodontic treatment depends on your specific oral problem and its severity. Your mouth or tooth may feel sore for a few days after your procedure while more extensive surgery may cause more severe discomfort or one that lasts longer.

After a root canal, you may need to follow up with your regular dentist. Your provider may fit a crown (metal or porcelain covering) on top of your tooth to fully protect and restore your repaired tooth. It’s important to follow your provider’s instructions to ensure your tooth heals the way it should.

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