Should you see an endodontist or a dentist for a root canal?

When it comes to getting a root canal, there are two main choices that you have: seeing a dentist or an endodontist. Both of these professionals can perform a root canal, but there are some differences in the way that they do it. In this blog post, we will explore the differences between dentists and endodontists when it comes to performing root canals. We will also answer the question: "Should you see an endodontist or dentist for a root canal?"

One quick spoiler: when making sure you get the best care possible, it's important to note that it's never a battle between the dentists and endodontists. In fact, it's the opposite. Your endodontist will work closely with your dentists by sharing imaging, patient history and more to make sure you get the best care possible. So, even though there are some differences between the two, the end result is always the same: happy patients.

Seeing an endodontist for a root canal

You should see a board-certified endodontist like Dr. Nieves if you want to get the best care for your root canal during your root canal therapy procedure. Endodontists receive years of additional extensive training in addition to their DDS so that they know the proper techniques, pain reduction practices and methods to prevent further infections of a root canal.

Endodontists have additional expertise and training

An endodontist is a root canal specialist. They are dentists who have completed two to three years of additional training beyond dental school in root canal therapy. In other words, an endodontist is like a super dentist that has extra knowledge specifically about the roots of your teeth (and, obviously, the root canal). This specialized education gives them the skills and knowledge to save teeth that are damaged or infected. 

During his or her endodontic residency, a dentist learns:

• Learn advanced root canal techniques that help increase the chances of saving teeth

• Get experience with different root canal procedures, some of which can reduce pain and discomfort by a great amount

• Use the latest root canal technology, which has been designed with patients in mind for a much better experience with root canal therapy

This extra education and training is what sets endodontists apart from dentists. When you see a Dr. Nieves for root canal therapy, you can be confident that you are getting the best possible care by an expert in the field.

Endodontists use the latest equipment and technology

What’s more, endodontists use the latest and most advanced equipment available. When diagnosing your pain at Granbury Endodontics, we use state-of-the-art imaging tools like digital x-rays, dental operating microscopes and cone beam computer tomography (or "cone beam CT", as you'll hear us say it in the office), which gives us a 3-D picture of what's going on in your mouth. Unlike standard dental x-rays, the cone beam CT can let us look at soft tissue in your mouth, so we get a fuller picture of everything that's going on.

If you do need to have a root canal, we use advanced endodontic technology during the procedure as well. This helps ensure that your root canal is as comfortable as possible and that the infection is removed completely from your tooth. For example, at Granbury Endodontics, we use the GentleWave® Procedure, which is a less-invasive method of removing the infected tissue that causes the pain in your root canal. It's actually a whole new piece of equipment that Dr. Nieves invested in specifically to make root canal procedures less painful and more successful for his patients.

Endodontists are hyper focused on root canal therapy

Finally, endodontists have a great deal of experience in performing root canals. In fact, it’s all they do! This means that they are able to provide you with the best possible care and experience when it comes to getting a root canal. Dr. Nieves spends every day helping patients with tooth pain, so he is thinking about and seeing the same endodontic issues every day. Combine this habitual expert practice with his experience and education and you'll be thankful that you chose Granbury Endodontics to help with your root canal!

You might learn you don't even need a root canal in the first place

One big surprise you might get while seeing Dr. Nieves: maybe you don't even need a root canal at all! Because we use state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging technology like the Carestream 8200 Cone Beam CT, dental pain diagnosis is enhanced, meaning we know way more than ever before about what's going on it your teeth. In that case, Dr. Nieves will discuss alternative treatment options so we don't end up performing an unnecessary root canal procedure.

Seeing a dentist for a root canal

You can still see a dentist for a root canal, but it is important to know that they may not have the same level of training as an endodontist. Dentists receive their DDS and then can choose to receive additional training in endodontics (root canals) if they want to. Many dentists do not choose to receive this extra training and instead refer their patients to see an endodontist.

In most cases, a dentist will end up referring a patient to an endodontist because they know that the endodontist will be able to give the attention and expertise needed to make sure the patient gets the best possible care. In fact, your dentist and endodontist will work closely together as a team to get you back to feeling 100%. So in the end, it's really not a "dentist vs. endodontist" question at all: it's both! They work as a team!

Should you see an endodontist or dentist for a root canal?

The best answer is that it depends on the situation. If you have a complex root canal, it is always best to see an endodontist who has the extra training and experience to handle these types of issues. If you have emergency tooth pain, too, you can always contact our office for an appointment because it's likely that the type of pain you're experiencing is coming from the root canal anyway. Plus, you'll remember that Dr. Nieves is also a dentist in addition to an endodontist (he's a dentist with a specialty), so he'll be able to diagnose the pain like a dentist would AND remedy the issue, all in the same place.

If you're having tooth pain issues or know that you need a root canal, definitely don't hesitate to contact our office at any time. Our staff is available to answer any questions and can help point you in the right direction about whether you should see a dentists vs. an endodontist for a root canal!