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About Root Canals
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Nothing
is as good as a natural tooth! And sometimes your
natural tooth may need root canal (endodontic) treatment
for it to remain a healthy part of your mouth.
Most patients report that having root canal (endodontic)
treatment today is as unremarkable as having a cavity
filled.
If you've been told you need root canal (endodontic)
treatment, you can find the answers to your questions
below.
Who performs endodontic treatment?
All dentists, including your general dentist, receive
basic training in endodontic treatment in dental school.
General dentists often refer patients needing endodontic
treatment to endodontists.
Who is an “endodontist?”
An endodontist is a dentist with special training
in diagnosing and treating problems associated with
the inside of the tooth. They do only endodontic procedures
in their practices because they are specialists. To
become specialists, they complete dental school and
an additional two or more years of advanced training
in endodontics, one of the nine specialties recognized
by the American Dental Association. They perform routine
as well as difficult and very complex endodontic procedures,
including retreatment of previous root canals that
have not healed completely, as well as endodontic
surgery. Endodontists are also experienced at finding
the cause of oral and facial pain that has been difficult
to diagnose.
What is endodontic treatment?
“Endo”
is the Greek word for “inside” and “odont”
is Greek for “tooth.” Endodontic treatment
treats the inside of the tooth.
To understand endodontic treatment, it helps to know
something about the anatomy of the tooth. Inside the
tooth, under the white enamel and a hard layer called
the dentin, is a soft tissue called the pulp. The
pulp contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective
tissue and creates the surrounding hard tissues of
the tooth during development.
The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the
tip of the roots where it connects to the tissues
surrounding the root. The pulp is important during
a tooth’s growth and development. However, once
a tooth is fully mature it can survive without the
pulp, because the tooth continues to be nourished
by the tissues surrounding it. |
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