Is It Necessary to Do Root Canal on a Chipped off Teeth with Exposed Dentine?

There are many times that dentin is exposed and the tooth does not need a root canal.  The tooth may need to have a filling or a crown, which could cause your sensitivity to subside.  A root canal is always a last resort, but is sometimes necessary.

What appears as very small to a patient may in fact be very large to a dentist.  If you are ok with a slight gamble, you could simply crown or bond in a filling and see if that was enough.  If NOT, you may need root canal therapy and run the risk of needing to replace the crown or filling at an additional fee. 

 

It may end up costing more in the long run if you don't do the root canal now, but you MIGHT save some.  Without an xray or photo, I am only guessing.

If adequate tooth structure is present, no nerve exposed, and no symptoms I would say not necessary... Keep in mind dentist sometime still recommend a root canal because after the chip they suspect that the tooth will need a root canal in the near future and would like to do it before a crown is placed. Good Luck

 

 

Kevin Coughlin DMD, MBA, MAGD        CEO Baystate Dental PC

I practice very conservatively, and if the chip was only in the dentine, with no visible nerve exposure, and a healthy looking nerve on X-ray, I would not insist on Root Therapy if you have no symptoms. I would conservatively do additive bonding on the tooth and see how it responds for a few months prior to doing any more permanent work.

Xrays are necessary to answer this question, however I can tell you that if the dentine is exposed probably you will need a root canal in the near future, the day you decide to crown that tooth. I am guessing here since it is very hard to tell without a visual element such as an xray. Good luck!