Periodontics Vs Endodontics, What’s The Difference And What Do They Do? Smile Store

If you are searching for a dental practice in your area, you might come across dental professionals specialising in various fields of dentistry. And often, it becomes difficult for patients to understand what dental speciality is suitable for treating their dental problems. If you’re also confused between the different dental specialities and unable to understand the difference between a periodontist and an endodontist, this article is for you. So read to learn the difference between these two specialities and the scope of treatment each offers. 

What Are The Different Types Of Dentists?

Dentistry is a vast field having different specialities and subspecialties.  The Royal College of Surgeons recognises the following specialities for dental professionals in the UK:

1. Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology
2. Dental Public Health, Endodontics
3. Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
4. Oral Medicine, Oral Microbiology
5. Oral Surgery
6. Orthodontics
7. Paediatric Dentistry
8. Periodontology
9. Prosthodontics
10. Restorative dentistry
11. Special Care Dentistry

Besides, there are general surgeons who do not have a speciality but are trained to treat overall dental health-related issues. Generally, dental patients see a general dentist first who can treat most of the dental problems. However, if a dental issue requires specialised treatment, such as periodontal disease or oral cancer, they will be referred to a specialist dentist. 

What Is The Difference Between An Endodontist And a Periodontist?

An endodontist and a periodontist are dentists who specialise in their respective fields. For example, an endodontist is a dental specialist who treats problems arising inside the tooth, such as the inflammation of the pulp and the soft tissue present inside the tooth. One of the most commonly performed procedures by an endodontist is the root canals. 

On the other hand, a periodontist is a dental specialist who treats dental problems related to the tooth roots, gums, jawbone, and related structures. One of the most commonly performed procedures by a periodontist is scaling and root planning, which removes plaque and tartar deposits from the teeth and below the gums and prevents gum infection. 

What Is The Difference Between A Dentist And A Periodontist?

A dentist is any professional who has undergone four or five years of training in a dental school and is licensed to perform dental procedures. On the other hand, a periodontist is also a licensed dentist. However, they undergo three or four years of additional specialised training to treat problems related to the tooth roots, gums, and jawbone. A dentist, also called a general dentist, is trained to provide all-around dental services, while a specialist such as a periodontist mainly practices in their area of speciality. 

When To See An Endodontist Vs. Periodontist?

Typically, a general dentist is the first dental professional to diagnose a dental problem. For example, if they find that one of your tooth’s interior – the pulp – is inflamed and there is a severe infection, they will refer you to an endodontist (endo=inside, odont=tooth). On the other hand, if your general dentist finds signs of underlying gum inflammation, such as gum swelling, bleeding, tenderness, and recession, they will refer you to a periodontist for the treatment of periodontal inflammation. 

What Does A Periodontist Do?

A periodontist is a specialist dental professional who looks after the health of your gums, jawbone, and related structures. Periodontists perform different procedures to treat gum-related infections, such as scaling and root planning, recontouring, gum grafting, and bone augmentation. The goal is to ensure that our teeth remain firmly anchored within their sockets and the gums are healthy and infection-free. 

What Is An Endodontist, And Why Would I Need One?

An endodontist is a specialist dentist who specialises in diagnosing, treating, and preventing dental problems related to the tooth’s interior. The interior of our teeth contains the dental pulp, a soft tissue that comprises blood vessels and nerves. In cases when a tooth gets fractured, or the outer coverings are damaged due to tooth decay, the pulp is exposed and ultimately gets infected if treatment is not sought timely. This is when an endodontist is needed – to treat the infection. 

Do Endodontists Extract Teeth?

Endodontists do not extract teeth; instead, their speciality involves salvaging badly damaged teeth from extraction. One of the commonly performed endodontic procedures – root canal treatment – is actually performed as a last resort to save a damaged tooth. Otherwise, teeth that cannot be saved through endodontic treatment ultimately require extraction, typically performed by a general dentist or an oral surgeon. 

Why Is Dentistry So Important?

Many people think that having shiny white teeth and pink gums is essential just for an attractive smile. Unfortunately, this is not correct. The fact is that oral health is directly linked to our physical health and wellbeing, as the mouth is the gateway to our entire body. If our mouth is diseased, the germs can travel through our food to other body organs and cause serious, even life-threatening, diseases. Also, we can gain energy from food if our teeth are not strong or healthy enough to chew it properly and help in digestion. More importantly, no one wants to interact with someone having bad breath! So, dentistry is important to keep you healthy and active and, more importantly, to give you a beautiful and lasting smile. 

If you live in Cork, Ireland, and you’re looking for a great dental practice that will take care of your entire family’s oral care needs, The Smile Store is what you’re looking for! Whether you need braces for your kids or teeth whitening for your stained teeth, we will care for all your dental needs. So, book a free video consultation appointment with us to start your journey towards perfect oral health and pearly white teeth.