Do I need Root Canal after Cavity filling?

Hello there,I would recommend returning to your dentist for a follow up. It is important that your bite be even and that you are not hitting on a particular tooth harder than the others. A bite that is off can cause chewing pain, jaw pain, headaches and other issues. It sounds like your dentist removed a cavity that was close to the pulp (nerve) and prepped your tooth for a crown. Your dentist will continue to monitor your tooth and if symptoms persist then a root canal will be recommended.  If this is the case, you would be expected to pay the cost of the root canal. Good luck and I hope this helps. Follow me if you have more questions. Sarah Thompson, DMDSt. Louis, MO area (O'Fallon, IL)Real Self 100

Hello and thank you for your question.
There are cases, like yours, when it is can go either way in a sense of doing a root canal right away or do a filling and hoping for the best. We call them borderline cases. As dentists, we are being trained to be conservative and choose the easiest and less costly way to save patients teeth. A filling is a first and most conservative treatment option, when there is a deep cavity. I always warn my patients that a root canal might be needed in such case. I give them an options: to pay and do a root canal now or do a filling.  Most of mine patients choose  not to do a root canal therapy until it absolutely necessary. 

root canals can needed anytime that you work on a tooth.  In your case it seems that the dentist tried to be conservative and just do a filling in a cavity that was close to the nerve.   As for fees, those are separate from the original filling fee.    Most of the time , your dentist will apply the filling fee towards the more expensive procedure as a courtesy .Your tooth will not feel better prior to your bite adjustment and root canal and new crown.  The procedure should take about 2 hours , from start to finish and with cad cam dentistry, they should be able to make your final crown In one visit