Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
I had a cavity in the tooth. The X-rays show it was small but when the dentist drilled the nerve got exposed and is telling me I need a root canal along with crown. He has put a temporary filling for now. How do I know if I need a root canal for sure?
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
If the nerve or pulp of the tooth is exposed, there is no other course of treatment except root canal treatment. You can confirm the same using x-ray, IOPA of the tooth. If no treatment is continued or a permanent filling is placed, the tooth will continue to experience pain. The infection will spread deeper to the root and might even cause an abscess. So, it is very important to continue with the treatment. You can send a picture of x-ray to confirm about the necessity of treatment. For more information consult a dentist online.
Patient's Query
Hi,
Thank you doctor,
I do not have the X-ray right now. It is in the dentist office. In the X-ray, prior to drilling the cavity, it did not seem to touch the nerve. But then, when the dentist worked on the tooth, the cavity was bigger than what it seemed on the X-ray and he exposed the nerve. He took an actual photo with a camera and showed me that he reached the nerve. That does not mean the nerve is infected. Does it? He also said I will need a crown because the root canal will make the tooth too fragile. (It is my lower left canine). Kindly help.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Quite commonly the cavitation extends beyond what is seen on the x-ray. It gets so deep as to be almost touching or frank exposure of the pulp or nerve. At this point, the nerve remains unprotected and is most likely to already have the bacteria. So, it is only a matter of time that the infection spreads deeper to the root and causes abscess and even beyond. At this stage, a root canal treatment will be more conservative and less complex. To do root canal treatment, the entire pulp needs to be exposed to be able to remove it entirely. Thus, further tooth structure is cut along with the large part previously removed for clearing out the cavitation or infection. This weakened tooth structure needs additional support to avoid fracture, which is provided by a crown or cap. So, do not worry, the treatment is not as complicated or as bothersome as it feels now. Share your concerns with the dentist as well, and he/she will surely help alleviate any fear before treatment. For more information consult a dentist online.
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Answered byDr. Prerna Jain
Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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