Both can do a root canal. A general dentist often handles straightforward cases, such as a front tooth with a single canal. An endodontist is a dentist with advanced training focused on the inside of the tooth, and is usually the one for curved or narrow canals, retreatments, cracked teeth and pain that is hard to pin down.
What an endodontist is
An endodontist is a dental specialist who diagnoses and treats problems of the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth. Every endodontist is first a dentist. According to the American Association of Endodontists, endodontists complete two to three years of advanced training beyond dental school, centered on diseases of the pulp and how to treat them.
In practice, that means an endodontist spends the workday on root canals, retreatments and tooth pain. A general dentist covers a much wider range: cleanings, fillings, crowns, checkups and more.
What a general dentist usually handles
Many general dentists do root canals, and many cases are a good fit for them. A tooth with easy access, canals that are clearly visible on the X-ray and a clear diagnosis is often treated by the dentist who already knows you.
The general dentist also plays a part you shouldn't skip even when a specialist does the root canal. They usually:
- Find the problem during an exam or an emergency visit
- Decide whether the tooth can be saved
- Place the final filling or crown once the root canal is done
- Keep watching the tooth at your regular checkups
When a case usually goes to an endodontist
Your dentist makes this call after examining the tooth. Some situations tend to point toward the specialist:
- Complex root shapes. Molars can have several canals, and some are curved, very narrow or hard to find.
- Retreatment. A tooth that already had a root canal and is hurting or infected again.
- Pain that's hard to locate. When it isn't clear which tooth is the source.
- Cracks and injuries. A tooth that took a hit or has a crack that may reach the root.
- Earlier treatment that couldn't be finished. Sometimes a dentist starts a case and decides it needs a specialist.
None of this means a general dentist did something wrong. Sending a case to the right person is part of good care.
Endodontist vs. general dentist at a glance
| General dentist | Endodontist | |
|---|---|---|
| Training | Dental school | Dental school plus advanced training in the pulp and root |
| Day-to-day work | Wide range of dental care | Root canals, retreatments and tooth pain |
| Typical root canal cases | Simpler, clearly visible canals | Complex anatomy, retreatments, cracked or injured teeth |
| After the root canal | Places the final crown or filling | Hands the tooth back for the final restoration |
Does it feel different with a specialist?
The steps are the same. You're numbed with local anesthesia, the tooth is isolated, the canals are cleaned and sealed, and the tooth is closed. Most people feel pressure rather than pain, and the tooth may feel tender for a few days. We explain each step in does a root canal hurt?
What changes is who does the work. Some teeth are finished in one visit and others need two; that depends on the tooth, and your dentist decides it.
Why having both in the same clinic helps
The usual path between a general dentist and an endodontist is a referral to another office. That can mean a new intake, sending X-rays back and forth, and waiting while the tooth keeps hurting.
At Art Dental Studio, the endodontist works in the same clinic as the general dentists, the orthodontist and the periodontist. If your dentist decides your tooth needs a specialist, the case stays within the same team and the same records. You can read more about how a multi-specialty dental clinic works and what our root canal treatment involves.
When a tooth can't be saved, the conversation changes. Our guide to root canal vs. extraction and implant explains how that decision is usually made.
Questions to ask at your visit
- Is this tooth a straightforward case, or does it need an endodontist?
- What makes this tooth simple or complex?
- Who will place the crown or final filling, and when?
- If the tooth already had a root canal, can it be retreated?
- What should I do if the pain gets worse before my appointment?
Where to be seen in South Florida
Art Dental Studio sees adults at three locations, with care in English and Spanish, and with an endodontist working in the same clinic.
Miami / Hialeah (305) 922-2262 · Kendall (305) 395-3330 · Cooper City (954) 233-0707
If you're searching for an endodontist near you because a tooth is throbbing or hurts to bite, call. For a dental emergency, we offer same-day appointments whenever possible. If you have swelling of the face or neck, a high fever, or trouble swallowing or breathing, go to the emergency room or call 911.
The bottom line
A general dentist and an endodontist both save teeth with root canals. The difference is how complex the case is. Start with an exam, ask whether your tooth is simple or complex, and let your dentist decide who should treat it.
Art Dental Studio has three South Florida locations — Miami / Hialeah, Kendall and Cooper City — with care in English and Spanish. General dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics and periodontics work under one roof, in a clinic directed by Dr. Vivian Menendez.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an endodontist and a general dentist?
An endodontist is a dentist with advanced training focused on the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth, and spends the workday on root canals, retreatments and tooth pain. A general dentist covers a much wider range of care, including cleanings, fillings and crowns. Both can do root canals.
When should a root canal be done by an endodontist?
Cases that often go to an endodontist include molars with curved or narrow canals, teeth that need a previous root canal redone, cracked or injured teeth, and pain that is hard to locate. Your dentist decides after examining the tooth.
Does a root canal feel different with an endodontist?
The steps are the same: local anesthesia, isolating the tooth, cleaning and sealing the canals, and closing the tooth. Most people feel pressure rather than pain, and the tooth may feel tender for a few days. What changes is who does the work.
