Endodontist vs Dentist: Who Should Do Your Root Canal?

The Short Answer

Yes, an endodontist does root canals. It is their main work. An endodontist is a dentist who has completed about three more years of specialist training in saving teeth. A general dentist can also do root canals and does many of them well. For a difficult tooth, seeing a specialist can make a real difference.

How the Training Differs

• General dentist (BDS): a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, about five years including internship. Covers the full range of dental care, including root canals.
• Endodontist (MDS): a BDS, followed by a three-year Master of Dental Surgery. In India the specialty is called Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics.

During those three years, the training centres on root canals, failed root canals, injured teeth, root-tip surgery and saving badly damaged teeth.

Which Teeth Are Worth Taking to a Specialist?

Your general dentist may be all you need for a straightforward tooth. Consider an endodontist when:

• A root canal has failed: the tooth hurts or swells again, or has a boil on the gum. Read about failed root canals and retreatment.
• The canals look difficult: curved, very narrow, blocked or with extra roots, often in molars.
• An instrument has broken inside the canal
• The tooth has been injured: broken or knocked out, or a young tooth whose root hasn't finished growing. See what to do in a dental emergency.
• A root canal alone may not be enough, and small surgery at the root tip is being considered
• The pain continues and no one can find the cause
• You have been told the tooth must be removed and want a second opinion first

What a Specialist Usually Works With

Equipment varies by practice, so it is reasonable to ask. Common tools in root canal work include:

• Magnification, such as loupes or a microscope, to find fine canals
• An electronic apex locator, to measure the length of each canal
• Rotary instruments, to clean and shape curved canals smoothly

How to Check a Root Canal Specialist

The words "root canal specialist" can be used loosely, so it is fair to ask:

1. What is your qualification? Look for an MDS in Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics.
2. Where are you registered? Dentists in India are registered with a State Dental Council and should be able to give you a registration number.
3. How often do you do this kind of case? Experience with your type of tooth matters.
4. Can you show me my X-ray and explain the plan? You should understand what is being done and why.
5. What are my options? You should hear them honestly, including when a tooth can't be saved.

About My Own Training

I hold an MDS in Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics from Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad, and I am registered with the Gujarat State Dental Council (Reg. No. A-22020). I have done more than 1,500 root canals, and I work under magnification with rotary instruments and an electronic apex locator.

Bottom Line

A simple root canal can often be done well by an experienced general dentist. For a failed root canal, a difficult tooth or an injury, an endodontist's extra training can help you keep your tooth. You don't need a referral to ask.

Read how root canal treatment works, or call or WhatsApp +91 97370 97666. I see patients across Ahmedabad by appointment, in English, Hindi or Gujarati. Dentists can also refer a case here.

Dr. Bhavya Soni
BDS | MDS, Conservative Dentist & Endodontist