Root canal therapy is needed when a large filling becomes loose or parts of the tooth breaks. The root is dead or dying due to large decay into the root or abscess type infection, causing the root of the tooth to die. When this occurs, your tooth is not as sturdy as it originally was and will require some additional support such as a crown or a crown and post. In addition, the crown will seal the tooth keeping bacteria out of this area. As always, we will discuss the pros and cons with you to help you decide what is best for your health.