“Can a tooth be filled if the nerve is exposed?”
I am a 30 year old male. I want to know if a tooth can be filled if the nerve is exposed?
15 Answers
Following root canal
if the tooth is filled with exposed nerve, the person will suffer of sever pain until the nerve is removed, and if it is exposed a pinpoint exposure, medication may be placed under the filling
That depends on what you mean. Do you mean you have a chip and it hurts to cold, touch and air? Or did your dentist tell you that the nerve is exposed? Some small nerve exposures can have a thin layer of special theracal type product placed and then a filling. Most times, a nerve exposure, especially because of decay, would need a root canal.
1. If you have a "live " nerve, one that is healthy and vital, it is a mistake to restore with a filling directly onto the nerve. Post operative hypersensitivtiy to temperature extremes and chewing forces on the tooth may result. However, if a particular type of material can be placed over a small pulpal exposure and then the final filling on top of it, you may do well. 2. If the pulp (nerve area) is partially non-vital, which means it is diseased, or totally non-vital (dead pulp) the risk of post treatment pain and swelling increases. It is not advisable to proceed with a filling in that case.
If the nerve is exposed, it usually means it has been invaded by microorganisms. Conventional dentistry would recommend Root Canal Therapy to stop the progression of infection. Holistic dentistry would recommend not doing the root canal therapy due to its toxic effect on your immune system. Instead, extraction and replacement would be advisable.
This can be done if the nerve is not infected. The dentist will place a direct Pulp Cap usually made out of material like calcium hydroxide and overtime the tooth will bridge new tooth structure over the nerve.Prognosis is fair to good for success and avoiding Root Canal therapy
Best Regards,
Dr. Mark Berkowitz
Best Regards,
Dr. Mark Berkowitz
The tooth most likely would be restored with a root cana treatmentl first if the decay reached the nerve.--(the deep dark line on the xray at the center of the tooth). THEN IT CAN HAVE A FILLING OR A POST AND CROWN AS NEEDED DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF TOOTH STRUCTURE REMAINING
This question is not answered by a simple yes or no. There are different types and degrees of exposure of a nerve. Some are small enough that a pulp cap may work successfully before a restoration is placed. But the usual nerve exposure is in need for root canal treatment. In this instance in particular, you need to trust and have faith in your dentist. And even if a pulp cap is performed, it is not possible to predict with 100% certainty that it will be successful.
Complicated answer. Ordinarily the the nerve (pulp) is exposed, the tooth requires root canal treatment before any filling is done. If the tooth is completely asymptomatic (not sensitive and completely pain free) and the pulp is exposed by accident (the decay was very close to the pulp) and the pulp is vital (alive) and not inflamed, THEN is might be possible to successfully medicate the pulp & place a temporary sedative filling in the tooth. If the tooth continues to be pain free after 4-6 weeks, a final filling can be placed over the medicated pulp. However, sometime down the road (months or years) the pulp may degenerate and the tooth may need root canal treatment.
Sure, but may need a root canal in the future.
No. If the nerve is exposed, this means that the tooth needs a root canal, and just placing a filling on top of the nerve is going to cause an infection, which will cause a toothache, and will still need a root canal. If a nerve is exposed, the tooth MUST have a root canal, and a crown placed on the tooth after the root canal to prevent the tooth from breaking.
First you have to treat the exposed nerve which would require a root canal and then you can fill the tooth.
No, it cannot be filled but it can be close to the nerve and sometimes your doctor may put a sedative medication to see if it will calm down.
Sometimes it can be restored doing a direct pulp cap. It does work, but not ALL the time.
Hello,
Great question! In a theoretical sense; yes, a tooth can be filled after the nerve is exposed. This procedure is called a direct pulp cap and it is not done very often as it is not that successful and is saved for times when it is the only thing that can be done. It would depend on the the size of the exposure to the nerve; but it would involve attempting to create a bridge over the exposed area and then putting a filling on top of that. It could be structurally successful but the patient could have lingering sensitivity or chronic pain. Even if the patient does not have any discomfort immediately after the procedure, the tooth still needs to be monitored at each cleaning and perhaps additional visits, then the tooth may flare up 6 months later.
With the success of root canals, and the cultural drive of not wanting to re-visit the same tooth problem continuously most people choice the root canal. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Great question! In a theoretical sense; yes, a tooth can be filled after the nerve is exposed. This procedure is called a direct pulp cap and it is not done very often as it is not that successful and is saved for times when it is the only thing that can be done. It would depend on the the size of the exposure to the nerve; but it would involve attempting to create a bridge over the exposed area and then putting a filling on top of that. It could be structurally successful but the patient could have lingering sensitivity or chronic pain. Even if the patient does not have any discomfort immediately after the procedure, the tooth still needs to be monitored at each cleaning and perhaps additional visits, then the tooth may flare up 6 months later.
With the success of root canals, and the cultural drive of not wanting to re-visit the same tooth problem continuously most people choice the root canal. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
