Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentistry

Monday, January 18, 2010

Root Canals…General Dentist or Specialist?

So you need to a root canal. Bummer! So do you need to see a specialist to do the procedure? Can you have your general dentist perform the treatment? Good questions!
For my patient’s I do complete many of their root canal needs. But like anything knowing one’s limitations is the key to success.

The number of canals in a tooth varies from tooth-to-tooth. A front tooth generally had one straight canal, whereas a molar can have 3 to 4 canals which are predictable curved or more tortuous. The twisting and turning of the canal, increases the degree of difficulty for cleaning and filling the canals. This is where the judgment and experience of the general dentist comes into to call. I have many peers who have taken countless hours of continuing education to perfect their root canal skills. I would be confident to have them perform a root canal on one of my teeth.

Personally I don’t enjoy doing root canals on molars and I feel my patients are better off having a specialist do the treatment. A root canal specialist, an endodontist, does root canals all day long. They don’t fill teeth, they don’t pull teeth, they don’t crown teeth, they do root canals and they are they do them well!

If you have any questions regarding root canal therapy, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to discuss and answer your questions and concerns to make sure you receive the treatment best suited to your particular needs and desires.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.