When deep decay or injury allows infection to reach the soft inner part of a tooth, it takes more than a filling to treat it. It takes a root canal.
Inside a tooth is soft, living tissue with both nerve and blood supplies. If a cavity is shallow, then we can correct it with a simple filling. If a cavity reaches the soft inner tissue, the tooth is no longer viable without a root canal.
We also recommend a crown for this tooth because a tooth that’s had a root canal begins to get brittle. With a crown, the tooth can last for many years.
Root canals are often done as emergency solutions for severe toothaches or after an impact injury that’s damaged a tooth. Call us if you need this type of help.