Endodontics (from the
Greek roots
endo- "inside" and
odont- "tooth") is the
dental specialty concerned with the study and treatment of the
dental pulp. Endodontists perform a variety of procedures including
endodontic therapy (commonly known as "root canal therapy"),
endodontic retreatment, surgery, treating
cracked teeth, and treating
dental trauma. Root canal therapy is one of the most common procedures. If the
dental pulp (containing
nerves,
arterioles,
venules,
lymphatic tissue, and fibrous tissue) becomes diseased or injured, endodontic treatment is required to save the tooth. Endodontics is recognized as a specialty by many national dental organizations including the British
General Dental Council,
American Dental Association,
Royal College of Dentists of Canada,
Indian Dental Association, and
Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.