Within the dental field, there are specialized branches focused on specific areas of the tooth or oral and maxillofacial. Depending on where your area of interest lies, to become a skilled dentist, it can require a couple more years of training and studying.
If you are interested in working directly with the pulp of the tooth, endodontics is the branch for you. Endodontics is a branch in dentistry focused on the pulp and surrounding tissue (roots) of the tooth. So, how can you become an endodontist?
Endodontics
To become an endodontist, you will need additional training and education in an endodontics specialty program after dental school. During the program, you will focus on studying diseases of the pulp and how to treat the tooth’s pulp.
Since the focus is on the pulp of the tooth, an endodontist is equipped to handle complex endodontic procedures to treat the tooth efficiently and effectively. With materials and equipment designed to give them a better view of the inside of the tooth allows them to diagnose better the problem and how to treat the tooth.
They are aware of the pain damage to the pulp of the tooth can cause and how they help alleviate the pain throughout the treatment process. Although the goal is to save your natural tooth, an endodontist can determine the best treatment option for you.
What to Expect
When you become an endodontist, you can expect many things. Your schedule will differ from a dentist and other specialized dentists along with meeting challenges. Here are some things you can expect to look forward to
- Vary patient schedule (from scheduled to emergency appointments)
- Build patient relationships in a short period (gain their trust)
- Management of anxious patients (increases with endodontic treatment)
Unlike a general dentist, as an endodontist, you will not be seeing your patients with regularity, which brings the challenge of introducing and gaining the trust of your patient. It can be a bit stressful for a patient to have a new provider work on their teeth, which is why you want to be able to communicate effectively and show empathy with your patients.
Patient safety and comfort are critical to the experience and gaining their trust. It is a rewarding profession, and it is an accomplishment when you can save a patient’s tooth from having to be replaced by an implant. Learn more about endodontics through the American Dental Association.