Endodontics

What is endodontics?

Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that specialises in the diagnosis of tooth pain and root canal treatments, as well as other surgical procedures treating the interior of the tooth, known as the “tooth pulp”.

Endodontists receive additional training to perform complex procedures on the tooth pulp, which typically involve high-tech equipment such as digital X-rays and 3D imaging to take detailed pictures of the inside of the tooth and observe infected root canals. Endodontists also use high powered magnification in the form of an operating microscope to look inside the tooth and nagitage through the minute root canals. We have invested in a top of the line Leica dental microscope for this purpose.

In fact, endodontic therapy is most closely associated with root canal treatment, which treats the soft pulp tissue inside the tooth. In many cases, a diseased tooth can be saved thanks to endodontic treatment, helping patients enjoy their natural smiles for longer.

What is a root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment (or endodontic treatment) is a procedure that is used to treat infections in the root canal and save natural teeth by removing the infected pulp, cleaning the interior of the tooth, then filling and sealing it.

The tooth pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and other tissues that nourish the root of the tooth during its development. However, a developed tooth can survive without the pulp, making it possible to remove the pulp safely during endodontic treatment if it becomes inflamed or infected.

Inflammation or infection of the dental pulp can happen due to a variety of causes, such as deep tooth decay or trauma. If untreated, it can lead to an abscess and cause severe pain.

An endodontist removes the pulp when it has become inflamed or infected, cleans and shapes the interior of the root canal, then fills the empty space and seals it. Patients will be asked to return to their dentist later to place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect it from further damage and restore normal functionals.

A root canal treatment is practically painless thanks to modern techniques and numbing medications, and provides instant relief to people who are experiencing pain from disease. While you might feel some tenderness discomfort after treatment, painkillers will be prescribed to help manage it.

With good at-home care and regular dental check-ups, natural teeth can last a lifetime after root canal treatment.

Useful information

Click on the links below to find out more about endodontics.

American Association of Endodontics

• What’s the difference between a dentist and an endodontist?
• Quick facts about endodontics
• What is a root canal?

Other links

• What is endodontics?(American Dental Association)
• Further information about endodontics (British Endodontic Society)