What damages a tooth's nerve and the tooth's dental pulp?

[Richard G]

Hi

I have been told by my dentist that I need a root canal filling on my front tooth but the tooth itself is not causing me any pain whatsoever. The cost of this root canal procedure is going to be over £1000 and I am not sure if I want to spend this sort of money whilst the tooth is not causing me any pain.

My dentist says that the tooth's nerve and pulp have been damaged, and now the tooth needs root canal treatment to deal with the damaged nerve and pulp.

I would like to know what causes a tooth's nerve and pulp to be damaged and if there will be any consequences if I leave things as they are and not have root canal treatment at the present time.

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

Thank you for your question.

Damage to a tooth nerve and blood supply is usually caused by bacteria that have reached the pulp either through tooth decay or tooth fracture.

An irreversibly damaged pulp will need either root canal treatment or extraction. If one of these treatments is not carried out, there is a risk of toothache and abscess formation. It would not be advisable to leave a tooth that needs a root canal filling without root canal treatment.

Root canal treatment ranges between £200 and £450 at Pearl dental clinic.