The term “endodontics” literally means “inside the tooth.” As you probably guessed, endodontics focuses on the treatment of the materials inside your teeth — namely the dental pulp. The pulp is the soft material that resides under the white enamel and hard exterior of the tooth. Pulp is made up of a comprehensive network of nerves, arterioles, venules and lymphatic and fibrous tissue. When that tissue is damaged, diseased or otherwise harmed, you’ll be left with quite a toothache – not to mention that you’ll also be in jeopardy of losing the affected teeth.

 

Endodontists treat the comprehensive network of nerves, arterioles, venules, and lymphatic and fibrous tissue that make up the dental pulp. An endodontist can help repair diseased and damaged pulp and roots by performing a number of endodontic treatment therapies, including root canal therapy. A root canal therapy simply replaces infected tooth pulp with harmless sealing material to help prevent further damage to your tooth – while relieving your pain. Don’t worry; once a tooth is fully formed, it can survive without its original pulp because the surrounding tissues offer constant nourishment. After an effective root canal treatment, you’ll be able to use your tooth as you normally would – but you’ll be pain free!

 

There’s more to endodontics than root canals, though. Endodontists can also perform surgical procedures to help save your teeth. One common treatment, called an apicoectomy or root-end resection may be required when there is inflammation or infection that persists in the bony area of the tooth after a traditional endodontic treatment.