Specialized fields within dentistry have helped to improve the oral health of patients around the world. However, dentists within these fields must have confidence in their abilities to improve their case acceptance rates for these complex procedures.
Endodontics is no different. But why specialize in endodontics? Here is a brief overview of this popular discipline and three reasons to add it to your skillset.
Endodontics is the treatment of diseases and injuries to the soft tissues inside the tooth (dental pulp). The most common dental procedure within endodontics is root canal therapy, but other procedures include apicoectomy, traumatic dental injury treatment, and root canal retreatment.
Endodontics is seen as a key part of restorative dentistry, as dental pulp problems must be addressed to create a solid tooth foundation for other restorative procedures such as inlays and onlays. You’ll need expertise in endodontics before you can begin other restorative procedure mastery.
Post-pandemic, more patients are experiencing tooth pain related to dental pulp infections and inflammation, leading to an increase in non-surgical root canal procedures. This isn’t surprising, as many people stopped visiting the dentist during the pandemic and have since become more conscious about their oral health.
In some cases, technological advancements in dentistry, like those in apical surgery, have helped to improve the success rates of endodontic treatments. Under an experienced hand, success rates can be upwards of 90% — which could make these treatment plans more promising for patients who aren’t sure if it’s worth the risk.
The aging population also factors into the increasing demand for endodontics. For example, it’s estimated that there will be 72 million adults over the age of 65 in the U.S. by 2030 — this is 20% of the country’s population and would be double the U.S. elderly population of 2000. Paired with an increase in the number of aging patients who wish to keep their teeth, it’s likely that there will be a desperate need for endodontic treatments in the near future.
Root canal therapy is considered one of the most expensive procedures in dentistry. A root canal costs roughly between $620 to $1,472 in the US, and between $900 and $3,400 in Australia, depending on which tooth is affected, the dental practice location, and more. With additional training, you could increase the number of root canal and other endodontic treatments you perform per week, improving both your case value average and your earning potential. On average, endodontists perform 25 root canal treatments a week compared to two a week for general practitioners.
When you are able to offer root canal treatment plans to your patients, you can increase your revenue through these high-value procedures. The best part? Many dental insurance policies help pay for root canals as they are seen as necessary treatments to relieve tooth pain and other symptoms.
Since endodontics is a crucial part of restorative dentistry, you’ll need to start at the beginning — dental pulp. Learning how to both clean the inside of the tooth and remove decayed tissue will take time, but once you have mastered the basics, you can start to explore other procedures within restorative dentistry.
Endodontics will continue to be a crucial part of dentistry year after year. This is a great specialty to learn so that you can meet the needs of your patients and get a head start on learning restorative dentistry. If endodontics is your calling, you’ll need the right hands-on learning approach. Through simulation endodontic courses, you can learn from the comfort of your office with your own tools under the eyes of instructors who specialize in endodontics and restorative dentistry. With experienced coaching and support, you can advance your career in endodontics on your terms.
To begin your learning journey, discover endodontics.