Many dentists treat root canals, however, complex root canals due to curved or narrow roots are best treated by a root canal specialist or endodontist.

Endodontists are root canal specialists. They are often referred to for difficult root canal cases such as retreatments (2nd root canal), molar teeth, or teeth with atypical root structures.

A build up is a filling that replaces the center of the tooth. Buildups are used after root canals since the center of the tooth is removed to access the tooth’s root. Often the buildup is made of a plastic-like material called composite resin. Once the root canal and buildup are completed, a crown is usually recommended to protect the tooth from fracture and seal the tooth from bacteria.

Core buildups are similar to large fillings, except they are designed to perform well underneath a dental crown. Core buildup placement is usually performed with local anesthetic or numbing.

Core buildups are almost always necessary after a root canal. This is because the center of the tooth must be removed to access the tooth root. In cases where a crown is not recommended after the root canal, a core buildup may not be necessary. This is sometimes the case for front teeth which received a root canal but have not had decay or large fractures.