Tooth extraction is within the scope of endodontics. One of the most common procedures performed by an endodontist is root canal treatment. This therapy removes inflamed or infected matter from the inside of a tooth, often to help prevent the patient from needing an extraction. However, there are cases where a dental problem extends beyond these internal spaces and a tooth also requires microsurgical treatments to save itself.
When the endodontist performs root canal treatment, the infected pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is meticulously cleaned and disinfected. The space will then be filled and sealed with a rubber-like material. After treatment, the tooth will receive a new crown or filling to strengthen it and it will resume normal function like any other tooth. Often referred to as “tooth-saving specialists,” endodontists focus on saving sore or diseased teeth.
They are best known for providing root canal treatments. If the pulp layer (dental nerve) of the tooth is damaged, diseased, or even dead, the only way to save the tooth is root canal treatment. We will numb the tooth with local anesthesia and then create a small opening in the tooth, exposing the canals. We use CBCT scans and 3D imaging microscopes, when necessary, to achieve this.
Endodontists also perform other types of surgeries, all of which focus on improving oral health and helping patients save their teeth. Like general dentists, both endodontists and oral surgeons prioritize caring for the gums, teeth, and mouth. The endodontist will remove the infected tissues along with the diseased part at the root end of the tooth. After finishing dental school, students who aspire to be endodontists will continue their studies with two or three years in a program specializing in advanced endodontics.
Endodontists perform surgeries that address diseases in small spaces, such as microscopic anatomy of root ends. Usually, a dentist will refer you to an endodontist or oral surgeon if you have a more complex oral health problem. However, if your circumstance is more complicated, he or she will likely refer you to an endodontist for proper care. Through endodontic treatment, endodontists and dentists around the world allow patients to preserve their natural teeth for life.
If you are dealing with toothache, whether it is dull and aching or sharp and throbbing, it can usually be difficult to bite and chew, and an endodontist may need to be consulted. Like endodontists, oral surgeons must complete additional education after finishing dental school that focuses on treating diseases and injuries of the mouth. Your dentist or endodontist can answer many of your questions, and if you're still in doubt, it's often wise to seek a second opinion. To help with operations on microscopic canals inside the tooth, endodontists use high-tech imaging equipment to guide them before microsurgery and use dental surgical microscopes during surgery to ensure excellent visibility.
In cases of a cracked or broken tooth, you may need an oral surgeon or endodontist to treat it. You'll want immediate treatment from an endodontist as soon as your dentist recommends this type of care.
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