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Why Oral Health Is More Than Just Having Your Teeth Cleaned

The field of dentistry, and oral care in general, is a dynamic and highly diversified medical specialty. Oftentimes, oral health care providers are the front line in the fight against countless diseases. There is a growing body of research that indicates insufficient oral health can be linked to endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia and a number of other conditions. Think about it like this –  the mouth is the gateway to the body. Gums, teeth, tongue and cheeks can tell us a lot about a person’s overall health.

Just like other medical fields, it’s important to know who to see and how they can help you. It’s unlikely you would see a cardiologist to find out why your back is hurting. Nor would you visit your local physical therapist to get a better understanding of why you’re having trouble seeing. Oral health is similar and a question we are often asked is why would someone go to an endodontist as opposed to a dentist.

All endodontists are dentists, but it’s estimated that less than three percent of dentists are endodontists. Endodontists are specialists and have a great deal of training beyond dental school. They focus on diagnosing what’s causing tooth pain and determining the best course of treatment (oftentimes a root canal) to alleviate the discomfort.

Endodontists have specialized training – After four years of dental school, endodontists undergo two or three more years of training. They study dental pulp and how to treat diseases that affect it.

Endodontists have specialized expertise – By limiting their practice to just endodontics, endodontists focus exclusively on treatments of the dental pulp. They don’t clean teeth or place fillings.  The average endodontist completes an average of 25 root canals per week. Dentists average two. Endodontists focus on diseased teeth and how to heal them.

Endodontists are experts in pain management – Endodontists understand how to keep patients comfortable and make procedures as pain free as possible. Root canals get a bad rap. Done correctly, the procedure is  mostly pain free.That’s because endodontists understand the procedure, how to do them correctly and how to most effectively administer numbing medication.

Endodontists utilize the latest technology – Endodontists understand their role goes far beyond the procedures they perform. By using machine learning and artificial intelligence, endodontists captured detailed images of tooth anatomy to better see the root canals and any related infections. Endodontists use dental operating microscopes to better see inside the root canals to thoroughly treat them.

Central Ohio Endodontics proudly serves the Columbus area. We have offices in Dublin, Worthington, and Westerville for your convenience. Here is what our satisfied patients are saying about us. 

If you have any questions, concerns or need to schedule a procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our experienced Endodontists and staff will be more than happy to assist you.