Endodontist vs Periodontist- what exactly are they? Many people are confused about the difference between endodontists and periodontists. The truth is, these are both professionals in the field of dentistry with their own specialties. If you are wondering if who between the two is the right doctor for you, that depends on your dental problem. The dental team of Boutique Dental Care Chatswood is willing to help you find the perfect dentist for you.
Endodontist vs Periodontist
Let us discuss the difference between these two dental professionals. Knowing which kind of dentist to go to is important to prevent unnecessary procedures and incorrect treatments. Generally, endodontists are dentists specializing in the tooth root, pulp, or any pain that relates to the inner materials of the tooth. On the other hand, the expertise of periodontists lies in the health of the gums and periodontal disease.
For clearer perspectives, let’s discuss the fundamentals of endodontists and periodontists separately.
Specialties Of An Endodontist
An endodontist specializes in many tooth diseases and problems, infection, disease, and tooth pain. In simpler terms, they treat the problems of the inside of the teeth. The dental problems that they treat are mostly related to tissue, root, pulp, nerves, and blood vessels. One of the most performed procedures of endodontists is the root canal, a treatment that aims to save a damaged tooth from decaying.
What do they do? Endodontists are the doctors that you need if your problem is related to tooth decay, tooth pain, and all tooth issues. Oftentimes, they treat patients that are inflamed or infected by tooth decay due to poor oral health. They also perform treatments for injured teeth as well as dental works.
Endodontic Treatments
An endodontist performs the following procedures:
- root canal
- endodontic retreatment
- dental implants
- endodontic surgery
- dental injuries
Reasons to See an Endodontist
So how will you know if an endodontist is a right dentist for you? See below why you might need to see this type of dentist:
- Tooth sensitivity. This is when you feel sensitive whenever you eat hot or cold foods and beverages.
- Bacterial infection. Bacteria can find their way to destroy the healthy layers of the teeth causing them to weaken. If this is the case, see an endodontist immediately.
- Tooth injury. If you break your tooth, commonly due to sports and accidents, an endodontist is a doctor to visit. They can put the misplaced tooth back to its original place and stabilize it.
- Fractured tooth. If the pulp of your teeth is exposed due to a fracture, an endodontist is qualified to perform a root canal, a procedure needed to make sure that the pulp is covered and safe from bacteria.
Overall, endodontic dentists are highly skilled to maintain the strength of the tooth and perform invasive surgeries to the tooth pulp and root.
What Is A Periodontist
Periodontists are dentists that specialize in everything about gums. They work from diagnosing periodontal disease, treatments, up to preventative care to ensure that it would not re-occur. Periodontic doctors help their patients by helping them manage the early symptoms of gum disease and oral inflammation.
Periodontic Treatments
The Southport Park Family Dental team lists the usual treatments that a periodontist can perform:
- Scaling and root planing. These are non-surgical treatments that aim to remove the tartar and plaque build-up from the teeth.
- Antibiotic prescription. A periodontist can prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial infections in the mouth. Sometimes, antibiotics are given after scaling or root planing.
- Flap surgery. This is an invasive procedure to expose the roots of the teeth. Flap surgery is often suggested to make root planing and scaling easier to perform.
- Soft tissue grafts. Grafting soft tissues into the gums is a treatment for people with receding gums. The idea is to maintain the health of the gum and prevent further damages.
- Tissue regeneration. When bacteria destroy the bone, bone deterioration occurs. Tissue regeneration is a treatment to restore bone mass.
- Bone graft. Bone grafting aims to restore the mass and strength of the jaw bone which has weakened due to several reasons.
Reasons to See A Periodontist
General dentists can solve many dental problems, but if you exhibit the following, a periodontist can help you much better:
- Swollen or puffy gums. Swelling is primarily caused by bacteria. This usually leads to inflammation, or worse, tooth loss.
- Chronic gum bleeding. You’ll know that your gums are bleeding if you notice a dark red color every time you spit after brushing your teeth.
- Bad breath. Bad breath could be due to several reasons, however, whatever the reason may be, it’s important to know its root cause and why it’s getting severe.
- Painful sensation while chewing. If you feel pain either in your gums or teeth while chewing, go see a periodontist right away.
- Gum recession. Receding gums is a huge indicator of periodontal disease. Other factors could also contribute to gum recession such as harshly brushing the teeth and poor oral health.
