Endodontists are dentists who specialize in maintaining teeth through endodontic therapy procedures, involving the soft inner tissue of the teeth, called the pulp.  The word "endodontic" comes from "endo" meaning inside and "odont" meaning tooth.  Like many medical terms, it's Greek.  All dentists are trained in diagnosis and endodontic therapy, however, some teeth can be especially difficult to diagnose and treat.  That’s why you may have been referred to an endodontic specialist.

In addition to dental school, endodontists receive two or more years of advanced education in this kind of treatment. They study root canal techniques and procedures in greater depth, for diagnosis and treatment of more difficult cases. For this reason, many dentists choose to refer their patients to endodontists.

Root canal therapy is necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, a crack or chip in the tooth or other reasons. In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage, even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If the pulpal inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

Occasionally a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment fails to heal, or the patient's pain continues despite therapy. Although rare, sometimes a tooth initially responds to root canal therapy but becomes painful or diseased months or even years later. When either of these situations occur, the tooth often can be maintained with a second endodontic treatment

Apical microsurgery is necessary when inflammation of infection persists in the bony area around the end of your tooth after a root canal procedure. The anatomy of the tooth or bone may prohibit adequate disinfection during conventional root canal therapy. If that is the case, a surgical approach may be appropriate.

Traumatic injuries like fractures or having a tooth knocked out are time sensitive. Please make an appointment as soon as possible to initiate treatment. Even if the tooth is knocked out, it can be saved if action is taken right away.