endodontist

American  

[en-doh-don-tist] / ˌɛn doʊˈdɒn tɪst /

Also endodontologist

noun

1. a specialist in endodontics.

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Etymology

Origin of endodontist

First recorded in 1945–50; endodont(ics) + -ist

Explanation

A dentist who specializes in the insides of teeth is an endodontist. If you need a procedure called a root canal to save a damaged or infected tooth, you'll probably need to see an endodontist. The word endodontist comes from the Greek roots endo, "inside," and odont, "tooth." This type of dental specialist diagnoses and treats problems with the dental pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The most common procedure an endodontist performs is a root canal, during which the doctor removes infected pulp. A successful root canal can save a tooth that the patient would likely otherwise lose.

Example Sentences

Carter grew up in Elizabethton, Tenn., with his course firmly charted: He would play baseball at Duke, then go to dental school to become an endodontist.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2023

“No one plans on security issues when they travel,” says Shields, an endodontist from Paducah, Ky. “When it happens, you need to know how to get help.”

From Seattle Times • Oct. 9, 2023

This did not seem possible for the son of an endodontist.

From Washington Post • Apr. 23, 2023

Dr. Yang Meyer, 29, is an endodontist, and an associate at the Colorado Endodontic Group in Colorado Springs.

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2019

Barbara Kabes, a retired endodontist and a donor to the campaign, joked that the future seemed brighter elsewhere.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 7, 2018