Endodontics in Naples

How Do Endodontists and General Dentists Differ?

General dentists perform a wide range of dental procedures, including root canals, while endodontists limit their practice to root canals and root canal retreatments. Endodontists are dentists with several years of additional training in a residency program that focuses on root canal therapy and treating the nerves inside teeth. They usually see patients, referred by general dentists, who need a root canal that promises to be challenging.

What Is an Endodontist’s Primary Responsibility?

An endodontist’s primary job is saving natural teeth using painless root canal procedures. At Dental Specialty Center of Naples, our root canal specialist in Naples is committed to saving as many patients’ teeth as possible, since no artificial tooth functions as well as a natural tooth.

While an extraction may seem to be a more economical option for a very painful tooth, a natural tooth helps preserve your jawbone and keeps the surrounding teeth from shifting. Additionally, it is more economical in the end to save a tooth with the help of a root canal specialist than it is to replace one.

An endodontist’s job is also to assure patients that root canals are not painful. The procedure has a bad reputation from years ago, when dentists could not numb teeth properly. Today, a root canal surgery is virtually painless, yet some individuals avoid the procedure for fear of pain. Endodontists want people to know that root canals stop pain and prevent it from worsening; they do not cause more pain.

What Will Happen at My Appointment with a Root Canal Expert in Naples?

Before you see a root canal expert, you will fill out a medical history and other forms. Bring a list of your current medications with you. If you need x-rays, a member of our team will take them before you have a consultation with a root canal expert.

An endodontist will talk to you about your symptoms and the treatment he or she recommends, which is typically a root canal if the root pulp is damaged or infected. If you need a root canal, you will receive a local anesthetic so you will not feel any pain during the procedure. When our root canal expert is finished, you will have a temporary filling to seal your tooth. Your regular dentist can provide you with a permanent crown or filling to protect your tooth. Be sure to get your permanent restoration or your tooth may crack, as it is weaker after a root canal.

How Do I Make an Appointment with an Endodontist in Naples?

Call Dental Specialty Center of Naples at (239) 227-2479 to schedule your appointment for endodontics in Naples. If you delay getting treatment, you risk losing your tooth. You always want to save your natural tooth and preserve your smile. Replacing a missing tooth is costly and with a bridge or other replacement device, the tooth will not function as well as a natural tooth.