Vero Beach Endodontists: Dentists Specializing in Endodontic Dentistry in Indian River County
David B. Rosenberg, DDS, Endodontist
Rumberger Gerard D DDS
Smith Brad P DDS
Wilson D Neil DDS
Endodontics, from the Greek endo (inside) and odons (tooth), is a specialist sub-field of dentistry that
deals with the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of a tooth. The pulp (containing nerves,
arterioles and venules as well as lymphatic tissue and fibrous tissue) can become diseased or injured,
and is often unable to repair itself; if it dies, endodontic treatment is required.
Endodontists are dentists who have specialized in this field; qualification as an endodontist typically
requires an additional 2-3 years of training following dental school. Many endodontic residents do
original research and earn a Master's degree as well as a speciality certificate. They specialize and
limit their practice to root canal therapy and root canal surgery, and use their special training and
experience in treating difficult cases, such as teeth with narrow or blocked canals, or unusual anatomy.
Endodontists may use advanced technology, such as operating microscopes, ultrasonics and digital imaging,
to perform these special services, and often have great experience in successfully treating patients who
present in pain. Patients requiring root canal therapy are either referred by their general dentists to the
endodontist or are self referred; the most common procedure done in endodontics is root-canal therapy.
Other procedures practiced in endodontics include incision for drainage, internal tooth bleaching to fix
teeth that have blackened because of infiltration of decayed soft tissue into the dentin in the teeth -
most often seen in incisors that have been injured through a sudden impact, and periradicular surgery
(apicoectomy); the more radical treatments generally are needed in cases of abscesses, root fractures,
and problematic tooth anatomy, but may be indicated in treating teeth that have persistent root end
pathosis following root canal treatment.
