Who is an Endodontist and what do they do?

Endodontists are dentists who specialize in maintaining teeth through endodontic therapy. Endodontics involves the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and complications of the tooth, pulp, roots, and surrounding tissues with the goal of retention and preservation. The word “endodontic” comes from “endo” meaning inside and “odont” meaning tooth.  Like many medical terms, it’s Greek.  All dentists graduate with an accredited level of training in endodontic diagnosis and treatment.  When they are presented with especially difficult and complex diagnostic and treatment situations they often will refer to a Certified Endodontic Specialist.

In addition to graduating from and accredited dental school, Endodontists receive an additional two or more years of advanced formal education in their speciality. They study root canal techniques and procedures in greater depth to meet the challenges of diagnosing and treating even the most difficult cases.