Inside your tooth, under the enamel and a hard layer called dentin, is a soft tissue called dental pulp. This tissue contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues, which help grow the root of your tooth during its development. If the bacteria in the oral environment have reached the dental pulp due to caries, cracks, fractures, it causes pain. Root canal treatment is the process of cleaning, disinfecting, and sealing the pulp tissue in the root canals to get rid of this pain and to prevent re-infection. During root canal treatment, your endodontist:

• Places a dental dam (tiny tarp) over your tooth to isolate the affected area and protect your mouth.

• Accesses the pulp tissue from the top or behind your affected tooth generally by cleaning the tooth decay.

• Removes damaged or diseased pulp tissue.

• Cleans and disinfects the area inside a tooth.

• Fills and seals the tooth.

Endodontists are sometimes called root canal dentists. While general dentists and endodontists can both perform root canal treatment, endodontists perform this procedure much more often. This higher volume and additional training translate to endodontists’ higher level of expertise in performing root canal treatment.

Endodontists specialize in diagnosing complex causes of tooth pain. They also perform other dental treatments, including:

• Endodontic retreatment: Removes and replaces materials used during a previous root canal that did not heal properly.

• Emergency dental surgery: May involve repairing complex dental injuries or treating severe tooth infections.

• Endodontic surgery: Specialized surgery, such as apicoectomy (removal of the end, or tip, of a tooth’s root).