What Does an Endodontist Do?

An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in the treatment of the soft inner tissue of the teeth, referred to as the pulp. The pulp contains nerve tissue, blood vessels, and other connective tissues. An endodontist needs to go through an additional 2 or more years of schooling after they have completed dental school.

The procedure that is most closely associated with endodontists is endodontic therapy. Another name for this procedure is root canal therapy, and it is done when decay or injury has infected or inflamed the pulp to the point that the tooth is dying. The first step in root canal therapy is to take X-rays to understand the full extent of the damage. After a local anesthetic is administered, the tooth is isolated from moisture using a dental dam. Our dentist in West Hollywood then removes the decay and creates an access hole through the crown of the tooth. Using special tools, the diseased pulp is then removed. The root canals are then flushed and cleaned, and antibiotics are administered if needed. The tooth is then filled and ultimately restored with a dental crown.

Endodontists also specialize in replanting teeth that have been knocked out of their sockets. That is why you should contact our endodontist in West Hollywood as soon as possible if you accidentally knock your tooth out of its socket.