Endodontics

What is Endodontic Treatment?

Endodontic treatment is the technical name for the dental procedure commonly referred to as ‘Root Canal Treatment’. The word Endodontics originates from the Greek words ‘endo’ meaning ‘inside’ and ‘odont’ meaning ‘tooth’. Thus Endodontic treatment refers to treating the inside of the tooth.

Root Canal Treatment is performed when the tooth’s pulp (sometimes referred to as the nerve) has become diseased or infected. Root Canal Treatment involves cleaning, shaping and filling the inside of the tooth to make it disease free and functional again.

What is an Endodontist?

An Endodontist is a Specialist Dentist who has completed an additional three years of further study and training in the area of infectious disease inside the tooth and its surrounding structure. Essentially an Endodontist is a Root Canal Specialist, however, Endodontists are also trained to diagnose facial pain and to manage dental trauma. All dentists are trained to perform Endodontic treatment; however, not all Root Canal Treatments are the same. A dentist will refer to an Endodontist when a case or tooth is too complex to manage in a general practice setting.