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Blog Post

So You Want To Be An Endodontist?

Aug 29, 2016

While all endodontists are dentists, only 3% of dentists are endodontists. It requires two to three additional years of schooling to specialize in this field. Just like a person would place an emphasis in one area of law over the course of law school, a dentist can choose to undergo a more specific and niche path for their career in dentistry. They can choose to take the path less traveled. They can choose to take the route of the root — see what we did there?

Endodontists Save Teeth

Endodontics does not merely consist of root canals, contrary to popular misconceptions. When people think about their teeth, they think about what they see. They get cleanings and whitenings to produce a healthy-looking, bright smile to show the world. But there is also an entire multiverse of happenings that go on in the inner sanctums of your teeth. Endodontists specialize in saving teeth and diagnosing tooth pain, in addition to performing root canals, which address damaged pulp (or pulpitis).

There are a variety of programs nationwide to gain the necessary knowledge to become an endodontist, which can be an incredibly rewarding career, not only financially, but emotionally as well. The job entails making people feel good about themselves and saving lives — the lives of people’s teeth!

As far as prerequisites go, a dental degree from any national or international dental school is required to apply. You’ll also have to submit up to three letters of recommendation, so make sure you keep in touch with those old professors. It also helps to have held a great class ranking, and there’s usually a Minimum TOEFL Score (specific type required), in addition to national board scores.

So, if you’re interested in whats going on behind the scenes, if you enjoy digging down to the pulp of the matter, then maybe endodontics is for you. If you finish dental school and still feel unfulfilled, it might be a beneficial and rewarding move to consider endodontics as your career path. Contact New York City Endodontics if you have any questions. Were happy to point you in the right direction!