When you have a tooth that’s compromised by decay or injury, you need to move quickly to a treatment plan. You may also be suffering some significant pain, which can make it harder to think through your options.

It’s true that general dentists CAN do root canals, but often the best choice is to request a referral to an endodontist. Your general dentist probably has working relationships with several local endodontists, and they can suggest someone who is a good match for your scheduling and clinical needs.

Here are just a few of the many reasons why endodontists are the preferred provider for root canal treatments.

Why Should An Endodontist Do My Root Canal?

1. Endodontists receive several years of additional training. After graduating from dental school, endodontists receive two to three years of additional specialty training, treating diseases of the soft tissues of the teeth, including the nerve pulp.
2. Endodontists perform root canals more frequently than general dentists. The average general dentist performs fewer than two root canals a week; the average endodontist performs 25 per week. This means the endodontist will see a greater range of cases and have more experience in treating a variety of challenges that may emerge during the procedure.
3. Endodontists are trained to use leading-edge technology and microsurgical techniques. Advances in root canal treatment in recent decades have made the procedure successful in more than 90 percent of cases.
4. Endodontists frequently provide clinical consultations to general dentists on tough cases. General dentists, as noted earlier, often partner with nearby endodontists when they have patients who may need a root canal. This relationship means you can trust that the endodontic referral you receive was preceded by a clinical discussion of your specific needs and challenges.

“Root canals comprise most of an endodontist’s caseload – they are the most common treatment we deliver,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, who practices with the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “Patients can trust our years of specialized training, the techniques and equipment we have access to, as well as our relationships with local general dentists.”

 

If you’ve been referred to a Phoenix endodontist and have never seen one before, you might wonder what services they provide. Endodontics is recognized as an official specialty field for dentists by the American Dental Association. Endodontists attend two to three years of additional training after graduating from dental school. During their post-graduate training, they receive instruction in advanced microsurgical techniques and learn the latest in effective pain management methods.

Here’s a quick look at the types of procedures Phoenix Endodontic Group performs as part of their mission to save natural teeth whenever possible.

Procedures Performed By Phoenix Endodontists

1. Root canals and root canal retreatments. Root canals are frequently how patients first meet an endodontist. The procedure preserves natural teeth by cleaning infection out of a tooth’s root canal, and replacing the nerve pulp inside of a tooth with biocompatible material. A crown is placed over the treated tooth to protect it. Root canal retreatments can fix things that go wrong with an initial root canal, such as new decay entering the tooth or the tooth being further fractured.
2. Endodontic surgeries. Root canals, which are a non-surgical procedure, are typically very effective at treating a tooth threatened by infection or structural damage. Some cases require more intensive treatment. An apicoectomy is a surgery that treats damaged root surfaces or persistent infections in the bone surrounding the tooth. Recovery time for endodontic surgeries, just as for root canals, is usually brief. Postoperative discomfort is usually mild and easily remedied.
3. Dental trauma treatment. Your Phoenix endodontist can help save a damaged tooth, but you must act quickly. Regardless of the level of damage to a tooth – from a small chip or crack to a tooth that’s been knocked out of your mouth – you need a full examination of your teeth and gums to determine the next steps to be taken. An endodontist has equipment, dental training, and experience to preserve a damaged tooth; they can determine if a root canal or another procedure is the best one to protect and preserve the structure of your tooth.
4. Dental implants. More and more Phoenix endodontists are providing dental implant services for patients. The reasoning? All dentists receive training related to dental implants in dental school, with many endodontists receiving additional training in the placement of implants, as well. Endodontists are uniquely positioned to determine if a natural tooth can be saved. If a tooth cannot be saved, your endodontist can play a key role in the replacement of it.

“Phoenix Endodontic Group endodontists work closely with general dentists from across the Valley of the Sun to provide the best treatment results for all our patients,” says Dr. Susan L. Wood, of the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “Together, we can diagnose, collaborate, and treat dental challenges, so each patient experiences the most positive outcome for their case.”