Infections within a tooth? You may wonder what’s present inside your tooth that merely seems like a hard piece of bone in your mouth helping you to chew and eat correctly, show off a great smile, and bite into your fingernails or open packages. Now consider a situation where you visit the dental clinic near you complaining about a severe toothache with sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures and pimples on your gums. The dentist tells you it is an infection within your tooth treatable only by Endodontists near you.

The dentist’s statement leaves you perplexed and wondering what are Endodontists and why you are receiving a referral to one? You may even inquire with the dental clinic, “why see an endodontist?” Let us explain why you are receiving a referral to a specialist treating infections within your tooth.

How Are Endodontists Different from Dentists?

When you receive a referral to an endodontist, it helps to understand this professional is an expert at preserving your natural tooth affected by infections or injuries. You receive a referral to an endodontist only when you experience a severe toothache because of injuries or extensive decay. You may experience sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures besides swelling around the tooth and gums or face. It indicates an infection exists within your tooth that needs treatment from an expert.

Endodontists are specialists in preserving teeth who have acquired an additional two to three years of specialized training after graduating from dental school. They can diagnose the cause of tooth pain and perform procedures on the insides of your tooth.

You may not like dental work performed on your teeth even if you have delayed your twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings and have allowed infections to fester in your mouth until they began causing severe toothaches. If you had not neglected dental exams and cleanings, the dentist in Watsonville would have diagnosed even minor issues in your mouth to treat them promptly. However, as you have allowed the infection to expand itself, the better option for you would be to seek treatment from an endodontist a specialist performing such procedures.

What Sets Endodontists Apart from Dentists As Specialists?

Endodontists are also dentists, but not all dentists are Endodontists. These professionals have specialized in a particular field of dentistry, spending additional time after graduating from dental school to acquire training.

The additional training acquired by Endodontists allows them to focus on diagnosing tooth pain, performing root canal treatments, and other procedures within the tooth instead of just the exteriors. An infected tooth or teeth are preserved by these professionals providing endodontic treatment. It is why they are called the specialists in maintaining teeth.

What Procedures Do Endodontists Perform?

Root canals are not the only procedures Endodontists specialize in. Endodontists can manage many endodontic therapies and surgeries, address traumatic dental injuries, and perform dental implant placement.

The primary aim of Endodontists is to preserve your natural teeth. However, the professional looks at various treatment options to determine the best course of action for your particular case.

Endodontists restrict their practice solely to providing endodontic treatment. They routinely perform about three root canal treatments every day compared to perhaps one or two by general dentists every week. When you receive specialized treatment from an endodontist, you are likely to heal faster with better outcomes. It is why dentists and Endodontists work together to ensure your dental team’s best member is managing every issue appropriately.

How Do Teeth Get Infected from within?

What is visible to you in your mouth is merely the crown of the tooth attached to your jawbone. You may think nothing exists within the tooth until you are told your tooth has a softcore inside known as the pulp housing the connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels.

When you let infections fester in your mouth, the bacteria penetrate your enamel and dentin to reach the pulp eventually. The infection results in the pain you experience with any or all symptoms of the condition, as mentioned earlier. Dentists also perform endodontic treatments but prefer to refer you to specialists with incredible precision and hand-eye coordination to perform complicated therapies.

A referral to an endodontist brings upon you the responsibility of undergoing root canal treatments from the specialist. If you don’t like dental procedures, including exams and cleanings, you would undoubtedly dislike root canal treatment. However, the choices before you are clear. You either undergo the therapy offered by the endodontist or prefer to have your tooth extracted. The limited options available can fill fear in you. However, choosing endodontic treatment helps preserve the natural tooth because the professional clears the infection effectively to leave your tooth healthy and functional for years.