What is the Difference Between an Endodontist and Periodontist?

By Elite Dental Group

Introduction

Dentistry in today’s world has changed a lot. There is a great depth by which the professionals focus on particular procedures of oral health. Today, we are going to talk about two of the professions of dentistry named endodontist and periodontist. With the help of their description, you will find out the difference between both of these professions. But before knowing their differences, we will first tell you about general dentistry. A general dentist is there to look for general issues of the teeth and oral health including diagnosis, prevention, and various kinds of conditions in the soft tissues.

Dentists are able to conduct oral health checkups, crowns, veneers, fillings, cleanings, radiographs, along with other cosmetic and health issues relating to teeth. When additional treatments like braces, oral surgery, dental implants, root canals or periodontal concerns including the gums, jawbones and soft tissues are needed, they pass on the patients to specialists.

1. Endodontist

Endodontists are dentists who have advanced training on the tooth root canal and treatments. The roots of the tooth are situated beneath the gum line and it is crucial for them to be healthy for the sustainability of the teeth. It can be difficult to maintain gum line health as it's difficult to see it properly. Endodontists generally have an additional two to three years of training. One of the reasons a patient visits the endodontist is for a root canal. However, general dentists can also perform a root canal treatment, but endodontists have advanced training and can assess the tooth root’s condition more thoroughly.

At times 3D imaging is used for a better view of the dental concern. The difference between general dentists and an endodontist is that most of the time dentists don’t have access to this type of equipment, which means they cannot diagnose the condition as accurately. An endodontist is specialized in root canal therapy and the treatment tends to be painful. So, they utilize specific techniques and tools that reduce the pain. When someone sees the endodontist, they will first make an appointment with the patient and examine the condition of the tooth root. The therapy will be carried out by taking digital radiographs and 3D imaging. This imaging helps them examine the root and root canals to recognize any concerns.

2. Periodontist

A periodontist refers to a dentist that has a specialty in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of periodontal disease, along with the placement of dental implants. This kind of dentist has three years of additional dental education regarding periodontal disease and its treatment. They inspect the soft tissues and gums of the mouth and look for infection, pockets around the teeth, gum recession, and problems that are beneath the gum line. If there are damaged tissues in the patient’s mouth, they remove them and perform surgery on the gums so that the soft tissues and teeth will be preserved.

Periodontal disease can range from simple gum inflammation called gingivitis to chief damage to the soft tissue and bone which supports the teeth. If someone suffers from problems relating to gum disease, they can see a periodontist for help addressing their pain. Their available treatments are much more widespread compared to an endodontist. Some of their procedures includes implant placement, scaling, gum disease treatment, and damaged tissue removal, etc.

With the help of separate discussions about periodontists and endodontists, this should give you a better idea of who to see for your dental concerns. A periodontist is a specialist in treating gum disease, while an endodontist holds the specialty of treating issues related to the tooth roots. Both of them have advanced training as compared to general dentists and use specialized techniques and equipment. Read More.