Endodontics is a dental specialty that deals with the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the dental pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of the tooth. The dental pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Endodontists are dental specialists who have completed two to three years of additional education in an advanced specialty program in endodontics after completing four years of dental school. They focus on studying diseases of the dental pulp and how to treat them.

Here are some key points about endodontics:

• Endodontics involves either preserving part or all of the dental pulp in health or removing all of the pulp in irreversible disease.
• Endodontists use microscopes during treatment to better treat the small internal anatomy of teeth without taking away too much tooth structure or causing iatrogenic damage.
• Endodontists focus exclusively on treatments of the dental pulp and complete an average of 25 root canal treatments a week, while general dentists typically do two.
• Endodontists use specialized techniques to ensure patients are thoroughly comfortable during their treatments and are experts in administering numbing medications, especially in patients who traditionally have problems getting and staying numb.
• Endodontists use advanced techniques to treat dental pulp and root issues, and they focus on relieving tooth or mouth pain while saving the natural tooth whenever possible.

In summary, endodontics is a dental specialty that focuses on the study and treatment of the dental pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of the tooth. Endodontists are dental specialists who have completed additional education in endodontics and focus exclusively on treatments of the dental pulp. They use advanced techniques to treat dental pulp and root issues and focus on relieving tooth or mouth pain while saving the natural tooth whenever possible.