Dentist Vs. Endodontist

Your twice-yearly trip to the dentist allows a hygienist to clean your teeth before your dentist checks on your overall dental health and looks for problems. An endodontist, on the other hand, deals specifically with root canals.

Dentist

• A dentist removes decay, fills cavities and repairs fractured teeth. He also refers patients to more specialized dentists for tooth straightening, known as orthodontics, and other problems. Generally a dentist has graduated from a four-year dental school after college and taken written and practical exams to become licensed.

Endodontist

• An endodontist has gone beyond dental school, generally for two more years, to specialize in root canals. Endodontists study pain management, infections and inflammation, as well as anesthesia, in addition to dentistry.

Salaries

• The annual mean salary for a dentist was $178,000 in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because they are specialists, endodontists generally earn more per year than dentists, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not list specific salary rates for them.