Root canal treatment, or endodontic treatment, can be done by both a general dentist and an endodontist. As the name suggests, endodontists are specialist dentists that treat problems affecting the inner tooth. This makes them more than qualified to perform all sorts of procedures on the inner tooth, including a root canal.
And yet, many general dentists also perform root canals, which begs the question, when should a general dentist perform a root canal and when should you, as a patient, get a referral to see an endodontist?
The answer comes as we cover a few basics.
To put it simply, a root canal is a dental procedure that removes dead or dying tissue in the inner tooth, while keeping the outer tooth intact. The point of endodontic treatment is to treat a tooth that is too far gone for other kinds of treatment. A root canal allows a patient to keep the outer part of their tooth, as opposed to having the tooth extracted.
This is a good thing since the patient is still able to smile and chew with the treated tooth. The tooth also keeps the rest of the person's teeth from shifting, like they would if it were extracted. So a root canal is a great way for a person to avoid the problems that come with a missing tooth, including expensive tooth replacement treatments.
Although it can be painless and sometimes, hard to notice, a dead or dying tooth often comes with symptoms that are hard to miss, such as:
Anyone who notices these symptoms should see a dentist immediately. Based on their findings, the dentist will either treat the tooth themselves or refer the patient to a specialist.
A general dentist may choose to perform a simple or routine root canal. This implies that there are situations that will need the intervention of a specialist. Situations like:
The role of a dentist is to make sure their patients get the highest level of care. For this reason, they will treat what they can and call in a specialist for matters that require their expertise.
Call our McKinney clinic to set up an appointment and get your problematic tooth treated, once and for all. Our endodontist has lots of experience performing root canals.
Request an appointment here: https://www.yourdowntownmckinneydentist.com or call Sam Patel DDS, PA at (972) 638-5848 for an appointment in our McKinney office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
There are generally no preparations that are required for a dental cleaning. However, there are certain things that you can do to help ensure the visit goes well. This is particularly useful for patients that may have dental anxiety or not know what they should expect for the visit.The best ways to prepare for dental…
A cosmetic dentist helps enhance the smile's appearance. They may correct cracks, chips, and other cosmetic imperfections in the tooth enamel through options, including tooth contouring or dental veneers. While similar, a patient will only need one of these cosmetic dental procedures. Learning the differences between these two procedures can help determine which treatment meets…
A dental cleaning is performed to remove plaque and tartar that can naturally build up on teeth and along the gum line. The process is non-invasive and takes less than an hour to complete. It is helpful to understand the steps involved with the dental cleaning process before the day of the appointment.While every experience…
A cosmetic dentist can repair your cracked tooth. This dental damage can result from an injury or accident. Correcting the situation is possible with the right treatment. Here are the details on how your cosmetic dentist can treat your cracked tooth.These thin shells cover the front side of the teeth. The cosmetic dentist can use…