The nerve in a tooth can die off if bacteria gets into it. In this case, there was a filling in the back of the tooth (upper right second molar) which had decay and spaces around it. To stop bacteria getting into the nerve, the filling was replaced first.
Root canal treatment is a procedure to remove bacteria from inside the tooth and then seal this space to stop infection returning.
After a root filling, back teeth are susceptible to cracking or breaking. A crack in a tooth is the most common cause of root filled teeth becoming problematic in the future. To protect a tooth and stop a crack from developing, we recommend that a crown is placed. Information about how crowns can protect teeth can be read here >>
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