3. Note, I said 'normal'? Teeth can have some funky configurations. Roots can curl around each other, canals can be calcified, or a tooth may have more canals than normal. An Endodontist has seen enough teeth to know what to look for and handle any abnormalities your tooth may have, and in a reasonable amount of time. For example:

a. I have known patients that have been in their dentist's chair for hours for a root canal. I remember one patient that claimed to be in her dentist's chair for 8 hours, and still ended up at the Endodontist for completion of the root canal.

b. I have known many patients that were referred to an Endodontist because the dentist accidentally perforated the root trying to do a root canal. A perforation is when the dental file punches a hole through the outside of the root. That's not to say that an Endodontist never makes this mistake, but it's a whole lot less likely since they handle these files day in and day out. They also have expertise and special materials for repair of perforations.

c. I have know many many patients that had extra canals that the general dentist did not see or treat causing the tooth to abscess afterward creating the need for a retreatment.

d. I have known patients that had two of the canals treated by their dentist only to find the third canal calcified, and had to be referred to an Endodontist to finish the root canal. This is frustrating for the patient, to put it mildly.