Endodontics is essentially the study of the dental pulp, which is the inside of the tooth. Endodontics is also the dental treatment of dental pulp tissues; root canal treatment is one example. An individual who may require this form of restorative dentistry may be experiencing an infected dental pulp (also known as the blood or nerve supply of the tooth). If a patient's infected pulp spreads further (through to the root canal system) this can lead to the development of an abscess.
What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment is an extremely common, simple dental treatment in modern dentistry. Root canal treatment is the treating of the soft pulp tissue of the tooth. The root canal is extremely important, and if root canal treatment is not carried out this can lead to the tooth having to be removed entirely. Decay, and therefore the removal of the tooth is something restorative dentistry aims to avoid.
What is the speciality of an endodontist?
An endodontist is an individual who specialises in preserving or ‘saving’ teeth, and endodontists differ greatly from standard dentists.
What is the difference between a dentist and endodontist?
A dentist is an individual who has undergone dental education to an advanced level, and is practising within a dental clinic. An endodontist is an individual who has also undergone professional dental education, as well as further specialising (within further dental education) in the diagnosis of tooth pain,and root canal treatment . Endodontists differ in the respect that they have completed two additional years of additional training beyond standard dental school. Endodontists are known as professionals in ‘saving teeth’ due to their speciality.
What can individuals expect from their root canal treatment?
During an individual's root canal treatment, they may be given a form of anaesthetic, and the treatment should feel similar to experiencing the adherence of a filling. During the dental treatment, the aim is to remove the dental infection, as well as clean the tooth to avoid any further infection. After the treatment is completed, individuals will receive a temporary filling, which will later on be permanently filled.
Nervous patients
Individuals may feel varying levels of anxiety when undergoing their root canal treatment, however they need not fear in terms of discomfort, as a local anesthetic is typically given. The root canal treatment is fairly quick, and the type of tooth will cause a variation in the time taken to complete the treatment. A molar for example, with several nerve canals may take three to five hours (depending on each individual case).
Causes of dental phobias
Individuals may feel anxious when undergoing any form of dental treatment, this may be due to a variety of reasons. An irrational fear (also commonly referred to as a dental phobia) can be triggered by negative childhood experiences, and can unfortunately be carried into adulthood. A large number of modern dental clinics treat nervous patients, whether this be through sedation (for example), or other forms of therapy.
