Endodontic Specialists
Endodontics is a highly specialised form of dentistry which deals with diseases of the pulp and roots of a tooth. It includes the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, trauma or pain relating to either of these two parts of a tooth.
The pulp is the soft centre of a tooth which contains the nerves, blood vessels and soft tissues and runs from the top part of the tooth down to the roots. The pulp is also known as the ‘root canal’.
It is essentially the lifeline of a tooth and if this is diseased or damaged then the tooth will die. If this happens then the only solution may be a tooth extraction.
If you have any problems with the roots or pulps of your teeth then you will need to see an endodontist. He or she is a specialist type of dentist who usually works in a community clinic, a private practice or a hospital.
The most common type of treatment carried out by an endodontist is root canal treatment. It involves the removal of infected tissue within the pulp followed by a thorough cleaning of the canal. This is usually sealed to prevent any reoccurrence of the infection.
It is commonly performed on patients with tooth decay in which the infection has spread to the pulp. It can also be undertaken on injured or damaged teeth which are at risk of infection.
Root canal treatment sounds painful but it is relatively straightforward procedure which can do away with the need for an extraction.
Another procedure is an apicectomy. This is undertaken in cases where root canal treatment has failed. The endodontist will access the tooth via the bone by raising the flap of the gum. He or she will drill a small hole in the bone to access the root. The infection is removed; the tooth is cleaned and sealed with a small filling.
To become an endodontist a dentist needs to have completed 2 years postgraduate training as well as obtaining Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS).
Dental Specialists Guide Index:
- Dental and maxillofacial radiology Specialists
- Dental public health Specialists
- Endodontic Specialists
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology Specialists
- Oral medicine Specialists
- Oral microbiology Specialists
- Oral surgery Specialists
- Orthodontic Specialists
- Paediatric dentistry Specialists
- Periodontic Specialists
- Prosthodontic Specialists
- Restorative dentistry Specialists
- Special care dentistry Specialists