Did you know that you can enlist the help of an endodontist if you are experiencing unrelenting tooth pain? Dentists can help you prevent toothaches and even treat them, but there are times when your painful tooth would be better treated by an endodontist. It is because we have advanced medical training, pain management and root canal therapy experience needed when treating complex dental conditions.
What Makes an Endodontist?
The word endodontist breaks down to endo (inside) and odont (tooth) as we treat the insides of your teeth. This field is recognized as one of the nine dental specialty areas by the American Dental Association (ADA) that is mandated to accomplish the following:
- Graduate from an accredited dental school
- Complete two to three years of postgraduate training in Endodontics
- Become licensed in the state where we practice
- Keep up to date with our continuing education requirements Endodontics
In addition, the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) states that endodontists typically perform an average of 25 root canal treatments a week while general dentists actually perform less than two a week! It means we are very adept at solving your inner tooth issues swiftly, effectively and comfortably.
Inside a Tooth
The teeth aren’t just comprised of the enamel-coated white structure we usually see when we look into a mirror. Deep within each tooth is a network of canals rich in sensitive living tissue like blood vessels and nerves. This is the tooth pulp that lies below your chewing surfaces and is filled with soft tissues and roots that can become inflamed when they are exposed or damaged. While you might not be able to see below the tooth, you can definitely feel it when something goes wrong, with indicators such as inflammation and pain in the tooth’s pulp.
Our endodontist can often treat the infected tooth with a root canal to repair the damaged pulp tissue and restore your tooth to full function, thanks to a combination of extensive training and practical application. You can rest assured your affected tooth is in good hands!
Instead of pulling a damaged tooth (depending on the severity of the damage), it is generally more desirable to save the tooth rather than replacing it with a false tooth. Our team is adept at restoring the tooth while making sure you are as comfortable during the treatment as possible. Once the tooth is treated and strengthened, it can often last a lifetime while you continue to take good care of it and the rest of your teeth and gums.
Diagnosing Tooth Pain
We make the most of modern technology by using advanced digital radiography and 3-D imaging to see the intricate system of your infected tooth. This then helps us determine the problem and offer the proper solution. Tooth pain might arise from:
- Tooth sensitivity (you will notice this when you indulge in hot or cold foods or drinks)
- Soft tissue swelling around the tooth, cheek or chin
- Tooth pain when you bite or chew
- Permanent tooth discoloration that doesn’t go away with whitening
Pain Management
When removing your infected, inflamed, or diseased dental pulp, you will be made as comfortable as possible using a combination of modern techniques and anesthetics. Patients often marvel that a root canal is no more painful than having a simple extraction! And once the infection is successfully treated, your pain will be gone as well.
Call Today!
Whether you are currently experiencing a knocked-out tooth, fractured tooth, or other severe dental trauma resulting in pulp inflammation, please don’t hesitate to call our office. We can treat your tooth pain and fix the problem as quickly as possible, providing you with the pain relief you need. Our goal is to fix the issue and restore your tooth back to healthy function as quickly as possible. Don’t delay, call today!
