On Sunday, July 21, 2019 at 4:22:14 PM UTC-7, Steve Weeks wrote:
On Sunday, July 21, 2019 at 5:21:11 PM UTC-5, John B. wrote:

Does the average dental patient have any idea what a "endodontist"
is?
Many don't. Ideally, a dentist would identify a case beyond his/her level of competence and refer to the specialist. I teach dental students how to treat, but also how to decide when to refer. Some dentists like to keep it "in house"...

Yeah, my spell checker doesn't recognize "endodontist" either. https://www.aae.org/patients/

Seems like the New Age dentistry is all about specialists. I've been referred to X-ray specialists, whatever you call a guy that sets an implant and endodontists who even look crooked at my tooth and I have to get pain killers.

And yet the dentist I have that refers me to every other person under the sun has her own facing, cap and implant making machine.