All dentists are trained to treat and diagnose diseases of the pulp. However, some teeth can be especially difficult to diagnose and treat. For example, certain general dentists will perform their own root canals in anterior or bicuspid teeth, because these teeth are easier to access and have only one or two roots. By limiting their practice to endodontics, endodontists focus exclusively on dental pulp treatments.
They complete an average of 25 root canal treatments per week, while general dentists usually do two. Endodontists don't place fillings or clean teeth, but instead spend their time diagnosing and treating tooth pain. They are specialists who are experts in finding the cause of oral and facial pain that has been difficult to diagnose. When it comes to undergoing root canal treatment, the field of dentistry offers two options.
Your regular dentist can do the work on your teeth or a specialist. The formal term for a root canal specialist is “endodontist.” When it comes to root canal therapy, most general dentists are more than capable of performing these types of procedures. They receive extensive dental training to know how to treat root canals. However, some dental offices may not have the necessary equipment to perform root canal treatment.
In this case, the general dentist would recommend the patient to a dental specialist who could perform the therapy. In most cases, general dentists will refer endodontic patients to endodontists, who focus on the diagnosis, causes, prevention, and treatment of injuries and conditions that develop in the pulp of the teeth. However, there are some cases where a generalist may be equipped to manage a root canal. If you're not sure about letting your family dentist perform such a complex procedure, read on.
A general dentist or family dentist is who a person visits each year for regular dental checkups.
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