Why Choose an Endodontist Over a Dentist for Your Root Canal?

Tooth pain can be excruciating. If that pain is caused by an infection you may need a root canal. Although a general dentist can diagnose and potentially treat an infected root canal, there are several reasons why you should seek treatment from an endodontist instead of a general dentist for your root canal. At Orlando Endodontic Specialists and Lake Forest Endodontics we are committed to making the root canal process as stress-free as possible for all our patients.

What Is a Root Canal?

Inside your tooth, underneath the white enamel, is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp inside your tooth contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue, all of which help the root of your tooth grow while it is developing. Once the tooth is fully developed, however, it can continue to survive without the pulp. If any part of the root canal system in your tooth becomes infected or damaged, you may need root canal treatment. This typically involves removing the infected or damaged nerve as well as cleaning and sealing the canals to prevent future problems.

What Is an Endodontist?

An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in saving your teeth. To become an endodontist, a dentist must complete two to three years of advanced training beyond dental school. That training is focused on diagnosing and treating tooth pain that allows the patient to avoid the need for a tooth extraction. Root canal treatment and therapy is an important part of an endodontist’s training.

5 Reasons to Choose an Endodontist to Perform Your Root Canal

Like most people, when you experience tooth pain you probably contact your regular dentist. Your dentist may diagnose you with an infected or damaged root canal system and recommend root canal therapy. At that point, you will need to decide whether your general dentist or an endodontist will perform the root canal. There are numerous reasons to choose an endodontist to perform your root canal, including:

1. Specialized training. Although many general dentists are capable of performing a simple root canal, an endodontist has received specialized training above and beyond that of a general dentist aimed specifically at saving problematic teeth.
2. Advanced technology. Because they specialize in saving teeth, an endodontist is much more likely to utilize the latest technology and procedures. The use of advanced technology such as operating microscopes, digital imaging, electronic apex locators, ultrasonic instrumentation, and fiber optics, can make a root canal less painful while also increasing the likelihood of saving even a severely damaged or infected tooth.
3. Efficiency. Unlike a general dentist who may perform one or two root canals a week, an endodontist typically performs several root canals each day. For the patient, this means a much more efficient experience. A typical root canal performed by an endodontist will not take hours to complete. Instead, you should be in and out of the dental chair as quickly as possible and with as little pain as possible.
4. Experience. An endodontist has likely performed hundreds, if not thousands, of root canals. Ideally, your root canal will proceed without problems; however, if a problem does arise, you want an experienced and skilled endodontist who can perform even the most difficult root canal procedures.
5. Availability. If you need a root canal, you are probably experiencing a tremendous amount of pain. Given that they specialize in saving teeth, most endodontists are extremely flexible and available for dental emergencies. They also perform root canals on a daily basis which offers considerably more scheduling flexibility. Instead of waiting days to get into your general dentist for a root canal, an endodontist can likely get you in and out of pain quickly.

Get Help from Orlando Endodontic Specialists

If you need root canal treatment or therapy your choice of provider matters. At Orlando Endodontic Specialists and Lake Forest Endodontics we understand the pain you are experiencing. We also know you may be worried about losing your tooth. Our experienced endodontic team is dedicated to saving your tooth and making the root canal experience as comfortable and efficient as possible.

Call us at 407-423-7667 or submit our online form today. Our convenient location provides quality root canal treatment and endodontic retreatment. By offering a calm and comfortable environment in our state-of-the-art facilities, we strive to make our patients’ endodontic visits a pleasant experience.