What Makes an Endodontist Different from an Orthodontist?

The different branches of dentistry are classified according to specialization. These include endodontics and orthodontics. If you are wondering about the difference between an endodontist and an orthodontist, ensure you understand more about each of these fields.

Do you have a child with trouble chewing their food or playing an instrument because of an over or underbite? Or maybe your child has a cavity that must be checked out. It may get a bit confusing at times whether you must see a dentist, orthodontist, or an endodontist, but this article will help you make the right decision:

What Does an Endodontist Specialize?

An endodontist deals with the health of tooth nerves and dental pulp. Most people see them for root canals; however, they can do much more. They can also perform services such as Apicoectomies, treating pulp damage because of traumatic dental injury, and endodontic treatment.

Root canal therapy is essential if a tooth’s pulp is infected. It involves making a small hole in the tooth affected, eliminating dead or infected pulp tissue, replacing it with a sterile biocompatible filler, and sealing the tooth to make sure reinfection will not recur. Root canal therapy is often done under local anesthesia using tiny instruments.

To become specialists, endodontists have 2-3 years of additional education in an advanced specialty program in endodontics after they complete four years of dental school. They concentrate on studying diseases of the dental pulp and how to treat them. Moreover, they use specialized techniques for ensuring patients are thoroughly comfortable during their treatments.

What to Expect from Orthodontists

These experts work to prevent, diagnose, and treat facial and dental irregularities like under or overbite. They specialize in correcting misaligned teeth and jaws. There are different issues associated with misalignment like speed defects, maintaining oral hygiene, and difficulty chewing.

The following are the most common issues they treat:

  • Overcrowding. Without jawbone space, adult teeth can’t line up correctly with existing teeth. An orthodontist realigns teeth using some unobtrusive devices and treatments.
  • Anteroposterior deviations. These include underbites in which the lower teeth are in front of the upper teeth when a person bites down. An overbite is when the upper teeth are in front of the lower teeth. These issues can interfere with eating and speaking.
  • Aesthetic problems. Sometimes, the whole face’s shape is negatively affected by malocclusions or a bad bite. An orthodontist can restructure and realign the jaw, teeth, and lip to provide every client with a perfect smile.

Post Author: Angel Ethan