What Is Endodontics? Changing Your View Of Root Canals

What is endodontics ? I've asked this to many people through the years and received some pretty funny answers. Endodontic treatment might not be familiar words to many people but the words, root canals, certainly are.

The short definition of endodontics is that it is the specialty of dentistry that diagnoses and treats diseases of the dental pulp.

The dental pulp is most commonly referred to as "the nerve of the tooth." Most people don't ask, "what is endodontics?" until they are in need of a toothache remedy.

Millions of root canals are performed each year around the world in order to save teeth from being removed. Here are some questions you might have about endodontics:

Who performs endodontic treatment? All dentists learn endodontics while in dental school. So all general dentists are qualified to perform root canals. An endodontist is a root canal specialist. Endodontists spend 2-3 years beyond dental school studying the specialty of endodontics.

Why is endodontic treatment needed? Root canals are necessary when the dental pulp becomes inflamed or infected. This is usually the result of deep tooth decay or extensive dental procedures on the tooth.

You might not have even thought about, what is endodontics , because you didn't even have a toothache. But endodontic treatment can become necessary without a toothache actually occurring.

How are root canals done? Confusion abounds as to what a root canal treatment actually is. Most people think the root is being pulled out. But a root canal is not a surgical procedure.

The root of your tooth is not removed. Instead, a tiny opening is made in the tooth in order to remove the small amount of soft tissue on the inside of the root. This tissue is the dental pulp and contains both nerve fibers and small blood vessels.

The space that remains after this tissue removal is then filled with a root canal filling material.

Instead of asking what is endodontics you might now be asking, "DO ROOT CANALS HURT?" Although endodontic treatment is a toothache remedy it is often misunderstood as the cause of a toothache.

Most root canals are performed very comfortably.

It is very much like getting a tooth filled. You should expect your tooth and gums to be somewhat tender after the procedure. This is usually very easy to control with over the counter analgesics.

Will my tooth need a crown after the root canal?  If you have a molar root canal you will most likely need a crown. For front teeth it depends on how much of your tooth structure remains. The reason for a crown after a root canal is to help prevent the tooth from fracturing.

Are root canals successful? Yes, approximately 95% of root canals are successful. The only other toothache remedy is tooth removal which can lead to other complications. Most of the time it is advisable to save your tooth with a root canal.

In my book, The Relaxed Root Canal,  I answer questions like, What is endodontics? In fact, I answer over 80 questions that I've heard in my 20+ years as a root canal specialist.

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