An Endodontist is a dentist who specializes in matters concerning the inside of the tooth, namely the tooth pulp which is comprised of nerve tissue and blood vessels. Like a general dentist, an Endodontist must complete dental school which is generally four years long. In addition to dental school, an Endodontist must also complete an additional two to three years of advanced training, also called residency.

As the training on endodontic procedures is provided in the dental school, a general dentist may be able to provide the treatment. But when the treatment is complex, it usually requires the expertise of an endodontist. The patient may be referred to an endodontist to receive endodontic treatment depending on the complexity of the issues involved and the general practices of a general dentist. The endodontic treatment is required when the inside of the tooth i.e. pulp of the teeth is infected or inflamed. In the case of a root canal procedure, the endodontist, or general dentist, will remove the inflamed or infected pulp tissue inside the tooth, shaping and cleaning the channel inside the root of the tooth. Some endodontists may also perform other services besides root canals such as the implantation of artificial teeth following extraction but they typically focus on root canals.