What does an endodontist do during a root canal?

The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect it and return it to full function. Root canal treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent tooth re-infection, and save the natural tooth. When you undergo root canal treatment, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed.

To remove the infected pulp, the dentist will make an access hole and then drill the tooth. The pulp rests below enamel and dentin. Once it reaches the chamber, the endodontist will remove the pulp and any bacteria that are there. The dentist uses a tool to scrape the sides to make sure all debris is gone.

The dentist will use a disinfectant to kill any remaining bacteria. Endodontists are known as specialists in saving teeth. Endodontic procedures, such as root canal treatment, allow us to preserve teeth even after they have suffered deep decay, dental trauma, or serious damage. The alternative to endodontic treatment is tooth extraction, which can compromise your oral health, especially if you choose not to restore your tooth.

An endodontist is a highly trained dental professional who solves problems within the tooth using specialized techniques. While general dentists and endodontists can perform root canal treatment, endodontists perform this procedure much more often. This increased volume and additional training translates into an increased level of experience for endodontists in performing root canal treatment. During this time, endodontists focus on techniques to diagnose and treat dental pain that affects the tissues inside (pulp) or around (roots) of teeth.

So how does an endodontist (root canal specialist) do root canal treatment? Before going into the details, rest assured that the process can generally be performed comfortably in one or two visits and follows an effective and logical sequence. Inflammation or bacterial infection of the pulp is the most common reason people see an endodontist. Endodontists focus on caring for complex dental problems that primarily affect the dental pulp (the inside of the teeth). While some general dentists perform root canal treatments, the average dentist performs only two endodontists per week, while the average endodontist performs 25.Endodontists have specialized training to diagnose many complex causes of tooth, mouth (oral) and facial pain.

In fact, the American Association of Endodontists estimates that less than three percent of U.S. dentists are endodontists. Because endodontists perform root canal treatments so often, they have the skill, experience, and knowledge to treat complex cases and provide successful endodontic retreatment when a patient who has already undergone root canal treatment experiences reinfection or requires additional treatment.