When you have a throbbing toothache, you may understandably be desperate to find relief! Root canal therapy has the potential to end your pain and allow you to avoid the inconvenience of a tooth extraction. But where should you go for a root canal? Should you visit your regular emergency dentist, or should you book an appointment with a specialist? This blog post explains what you should know.
All Dentists Have Training in Root Canal Therapy
You may be surprised to learn that all dentists receive training in root canal therapy during their education. This means that any dentist you visit has the knowledge and skills necessary to perform this procedure.
However, not all dentists choose to offer root canals as one of their services. There are various reasons for this. Some dentists may prefer to focus on other areas of dental care, while others may feel more comfortable referring patients to specialists for complex cases.
It is always a good idea to call your emergency dentist ahead of time to find out if they perform root canal therapy. If they do, you can feel confident that you are in capable hands. If they do not, they can still perform an initial examination before pointing you in the direction of someone who can provide the treatment you need.
General Emergency Dentists vs. Specialists
An endodontist is a dental specialist who focuses on performing procedures that affect the pulp (the soft tissue) within a tooth. Root canal therapy is one of the services that they perform most often. They also have additional training and experience in performing root canals, which can be particularly advantageous in complicated cases.
However, many general emergency dentists can also perform high-quality root canal therapy. In fact, they often handle routine cases with great success.
Your dentist may decide to refer you to an endodontist if they believe your case requires specialized attention. This may be due to the anatomy of your tooth, the presence of severe infections, or other complicating factors. Ultimately, both types of practitioners aim to provide you with the best possible care.
What to Expect from Your Root Canal
Whether your normal dentist or a specialist performs your root canal therapy, you can expect an easy treatment experience. Local anesthesia will numb your mouth, so you will feel very little during the process. You may experience some soreness in the days after your appointment, but you should feel much better within a week or so. If your root canal is successful (which is very likely), you can look forward to enjoying pain-free function from your tooth for many years to come.
Meet the Practice
At Anderson Family Dental by Espire in Colorado Springs, our team is often able to welcome emergency patients on a same-day basis. We perform root canal therapy with great care and attention to detail; we want you to have a successful and easy treatment experience! To learn more about how we may be able to serve you, contact our office at 719-521-4945.