Endodontists treat problems involving the inside of the tooth, an area known as the “tooth pulp.” It has blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. It can get inflamed or infected because of deep tooth decay, traumatic injury to a tooth, and repeated dental work on a tooth. When that happens, an endodontist is the specialist to see.
The most common procedure endodontists perform is a root canal, a procedure in which they remove the tooth’s nerve and tooth pulp that has become damaged or infected. If left alone, the pulp will become inflamed and painful, and ultimately, the tooth will die.
Dentists, too, are able to perform root canals, but an endodontist has a lot more experience doing them. Tooth pain and sensitivity to heat and cold.

Bacterial infection.Bacteria can get into the pulp of a tooth through small openings created by tooth decay or injury. Inflammation or a bacterial infection of the pulp is the most common reason people see an endodontist.
Tooth injury. If your tooth gets dislodged from its socket or totally knocked out, an endodontist can place the tooth back in the socket, stabilize it, and then often perform a root canal on it.
Chipped or fractured tooth. You may need a root canal if a large section of a tooth is missing, exposing the pulp to bacteria.