Endodontist vs. General Dentist: What’s the Difference?

When you’re experiencing tooth pain, the knowledge that you’re receiving care from an expert can provide some peace of mind. At Dental Solutions of Avon, we’re proud to have two expert endodontic specialists on our team that provide care to you and your family. Drs. Weida and Sitaram have years of experience performing root canals that ease your pain and restore the function of your natural tooth.

How Are Endodontists Different From General Dentists?

Dentists practice a wide variety of preventative, restorative, and cosmetic treatments. On the other hand, endodontists specialize in the treatment of tooth pain that results from infected pulp inside your tooth. To become an endodontist, candidates must complete two or more years of specialized training after dental school. You generally won’t find endodontists filling cavities or cleaning teeth. Instead, they are experts at performing root canal therapy and diagnosing issues involving dental pulp.

How Do Endodontists Perform Root Canal Therapy?

When tooth pulp becomes infected, it is usually very painful. Root canal therapy not only eases that pain, but eliminates the infection before it spreads any further, which could result in tooth extraction. During the root canal procedure, our endodontists gently clean the infected pulp from the inside of the tooth, then clean and sterilize the area. Last, they’ll seal the area, preventing further damage and restoring the function of your natural tooth.

How Does Tooth Pulp Become Infected?

Tooth pulp can become infected in multiple ways. Generally, infection stems from poor oral hygiene or from an untreated dental injury like a cracked tooth. To reduce your risk for developing infected pulp that requires root canal treatment, practice good oral hygiene at home and visit our office regularly for professional cleaning and exams. To ask our team any questions about our endodontists or to schedule your next appointment, call our office today!