Dentist vs. Endodontist: Understanding the Difference

Man sitting on dental chair in San Antonio, TX

You may not be familiar with the field of endodontics, but if you’re suffering from a tooth injury or infection, an endodontist just might be your best bet to save your tooth and relieve your pain.

General dentists and endodontists are both dental care professionals. Not all dentists are qualified endodontists, but all endodontists are qualified dentists.

Endodontists are specialized dentists who complete two additional years of training to treat concerns related to the interior of the tooth. Endodontists can remove damaged dental pulp and address issues such as tooth disease and gum inflammation.

At Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Rick Davis and Dr. Rick Schwartz have years of experience with root canals, dental injuries, and other endodontic concerns.

What does endodontics treat?

Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that targets the issues surrounding your dental pulp and tooth roots. Endodontic training focuses on diagnosing problems affecting the inner part of the tooth that contains the nerves, cells, and blood vessels that are responsible for your oral health.

Dentists perform extractions of diseased teeth and replace them with artificial ones, but endodontists are focused on saving your natural teeth.

When do you need a dentist versus an endodontist?

Your primary source of dental care and advice is usually a general dentist. They offer preventive care, like routine teeth cleanings, and can diagnose and treat a wide variety of issues, like cavities.

If you suffer a dental injury that involves damage to your dental pulp, or you require a complicated root canal, your dentist is likely to refer you to an endodontist. An endodontist may perform up to 1,000 root canals a year and has the skills to deal with the most difficult cases.

Here at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, we have the expertise and technology to find answers to hard-to-diagnose oral or facial pain and can perform specialized procedures to help relieve your discomfort.

Should you see an endodontist?

If you experience any of the following, make an appointment with our team at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio:

Chipped or cracked teeth
Sudden tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
Swelling, tenderness, or bleeding around gums
Tooth decay or discoloration
Infected or irritated dental pulp

We also treat more uncommon conditions, such as:

Tooth ankylosis, where the tooth root is permanently attached to the jawbone
Root resorption, where essential tooth structures are progressively lost
Root fractures, where the tooth and root structures are split

Whatever the cause of your pain, we can diagnose your condition and offer treatment options that restore your health and retain your natural teeth if possible.

If you’re suffering from sensitive teeth, swollen gums, oral pain, or tooth discoloration, contact Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio to get the relief you deserve. Call our office at (210) 405-0473 or book an appointment online today.