Unlike the medical field, where you often need a referral from your doctor to see a specialist, in the dental field you don’t need to wait for a dentist to refer you to an endodontist. Many patients are referred to an endodontist by their dentist however, as the first professional most people think to visit when they have tooth pain is their dentist. A dentist can perform an exam to find the source of pain in a patient’s mouth, and then refer them to an endodontist if necessary to treat the pain. A dentist can provide a preliminary diagnosis for your issue and refer you to the right dental specialist to provide the proper treatment. Like other medical fields, dentists and dental specialists have a network of professionals that they work with and are familiar with, so they can recommend their patients to someone they know will be a good fit for the patient’s needs.

A dentist is trained in all areas of general dentistry including cleaning teeth, placing sealants and filling cavities. An endodontist has completed their training to be a dentist but has then gone on to further education and specialized training. Unlike a dentist, an endodontist treats one thing only – tooth pain. While root canals are the most common procedure that endodontists perform, they are trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating several issues related to pain in the teeth. They are able to perform root canal treatments, including complex cases, root canal retreatments, and apicoectomy, as well as treat patients with traumatic injury to their mouth and teeth and perform internal bleaching stemming from a root canal.

Choosing a good endodontist is like choosing any other healthcare professional. You want to ensure you find one who is properly qualified, with experience to meet your needs, but also that you will feel comfortable and at ease with. Your dentist is a good place to start and will often recommend one to you if they feel you require the treatment of an endodontist. They can give you a couple of options as well as provide their personal recommendation for your situation. You can also ask friends, family, and coworkers for their recommendations and experiences with endodontists in your area. Because you don’t need a referral to see an endodontist, you can choose the one that is closest to you, has the most convenient hours or you feel is the best fit for you. You might also be able to book a meet and greet with the endodontist if you want to talk through your concerns and ensure they are able to provide the treatment you require.

Both endodontists and oral surgeons can perform surgery in your mouth, but their focuses and surgical abilities have completely different scopes. Both have received full training as dentists first and foremost, and then gone on to separate specialized paths for their area of interest. An endodontist will perform surgery to try to repair a patient’s tooth’s roots so the patient can keep their natural teeth where feasible. An oral surgeon has the goal of preserving a patient’s natural smile in the most efficient way, which may require them to extract the damaged tooth to put in an implant instead.

Endodontists perform surgery on the inside of a tooth, with root canals being the most common procedure that they do. With the use of anesthetic and microsurgery techniques, they are trained to operate on the small spaces inside of teeth that can become damaged. They can also perform endodontic retreatment, endodontic surgery, dental implants and treat traumatic dental injuries. Endodontic retreatment is a second root canal procedure performed on a tooth that was already treated once and is again causing pain or discomfort. Endodontic surgery is a further step that can be taken to try and save your natural tooth but can’t be accomplished through a root canal. With the advances in technology, these surgeries can be performed quickly and easily under a local anesthetic by your endodontist. To truly understand the procedures available to you, discuss your treatment plan with your dentist or endodontist to know what your options are. As much as possible, the goal should always be to keep your natural teeth.

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