You can directly see an endodontist if your teeth with a root canal starts hurting, your tooth is knocked out, and you experience symptoms of a pulpitis like a small white protrusion on the gum, painful pulsing pressure at the tooth top, etc. You may also be referred to an endodontist by your dentist if your tooth needs an endodontic surgery, your tooth has calcium deposits at the root tip, etc.

The most common procedure performed by endodontists is root canal. Sometimes, endodontists may recommend a surgery known as apicoectomy if the root canal treatment is insufficient to save your tooth from extraction. Some of the other procedures performed by endodontists are intentional replantation, injured root repair, and removal of one or more roots.

An endodontist is a dentist with specialization in endodontic procedures concerned with the dental pulp and root. Endodontists have additional years of training beyond dental school unlike dentists who have only completed dental school.