Why Is My Dentist Sending Me to an Endodontist?
During a consultation with your general dentist, it may happen that he suggests that you make an appointment with an endodontist. Little known to the general public, this specialist nevertheless occupies a decisive place in the preservation of natural teeth, particularly when they are seriously affected. For what reason does your dentist refer you to an endodontist? What endodontic treatments can be considered? Let's take stock.
What is an endodontist?
Endodontics is, to begin with, the branch of dentistry that is devoted to the inside of the tooth, in other words to the dental pulp (nerve, blood vessels, connective tissues) as well as to the roots.
An endodontist is therefore a dental surgeon who has completed his initial training to master the advanced techniques of dental canal treatment. Thanks to very high-precision equipment and operating microscopes, he is able to manage complex situations that general dentistry does not always allow to resolve.
His mission consists, in other words, of safeguarding natural teeth by avoiding as much as possible extraction and the placement of an implant or a prosthesis.
When does your dentist send you to an endodontist?
In most situations, your practitioner refers you to this expert colleague in order to preserve a tooth threatened by an infection or by a complication.
When the tooth presents a resistant infection
If a deep cavity has affected the pulp (dental pulpitis) and a first root canal treatment has not managed to completely eradicate the infection, your dentist can refer you to an endodontist.
In case of dental canals difficult to access
Certain teeth, foremost among them the molars, possess several roots equipped with very fine, curved or calcified canals. In this type of configuration, the endodontist is the best-equipped practitioner to intervene.
To save a fractured or weakened tooth
A cracked tooth or one weakened by a cavity or an impact may require a specific endodontic treatment. The endodontist then assesses the feasibility of the treatment and implements conservative techniques that clearly increase the chances of avoiding extraction.
What treatments does an endodontist offer?
The endodontist intervenes primarily to carry out complex treatments of the roots in order to preserve the natural tooth.
The root canal treatment
The root canal treatment (or dental devitalisation) is the most common act in endodontics. It consists in removing the infected pulp, disinfecting the canals and then sealing them hermetically. If your dentist deems the case too complex, the endodontist takes over with more advanced techniques.
Endodontic retreatment
It happens that an already devitalised tooth continues to pose problems. Endodontic retreatment then amounts to reopening the tooth, removing the old obturation material, cleaning and disinfecting the canals again before sealing them correctly. This type of intervention offers the tooth a second chance and makes it possible to avoid going directly to extraction.
Apical surgery
When the infection persists at the end of the root despite a treatment, the endodontist can resort to a small surgical intervention called apicectomy or apical surgery. This consists in removing the infected end of the root and sealing the area to prevent any recurrence. This technique sometimes constitutes the last resort before extraction and it makes it possible to extend the lifespan of the tooth significantly.
Why consult an endodontist?
The referral to an endodontist may generate concern, but it always responds to a specific objective: to save your tooth.
A properly conducted endodontic treatment makes it possible to preserve the tooth in the long term, to avoid extraction and the complications that accompany it, such as the imbalance of the jaw or even the cost of an implant or bridge.
Moreover, recourse to a specialist reduces the risk of recurrence and significantly improves the prognosis of the treatment. Thanks to his specific skills and his very high-precision equipment, the endodontist provides better therapeutic safety, which increases the chances of keeping your natural teeth in good health.
How does a consultation with an endodontist proceed?
When you go to the endodontist, the consultation begins with a thorough clinical examination and often with X-rays, or even a 3D scan, in order to precisely assess the state of your tooth and its roots. The endodontist then sets out the different therapeutic options, their cost and their duration.
The intervention is performed under local anaesthesia, which makes it painless. Thanks to the operating microscope and specific instruments, the endodontist works with great precision. In most cases, a single session is enough, even though certain complex situations may require several appointments.
