Filling caused root canal and crown - dentist at fault?

Not Necessarily : If the tooth had a large cavity, large filling or a crack then the root canal and crown may have been unavoidable. Sometimes we (dentists) try to be conservative or shall i say a hero and try to do a filling on a tooth that needs a root canal and/or a crown. You should trust your dentist feel free to ask questions and request your xrays and get a second opinion if you are ever not sure.

Need more info: Root canal treatment is usually needed to treat an infection. On occasion it is required for restoring the tooth to function. If the pulp (organ found in tooth) was exposed due to depth of decay root canal treatment is appropriate. Please offer more information that lead up to your treatment. I am unable to offer any further opinion.

Damaged tooth: Dental fillings do not cause a tooth's nerve to detriorate. By the time a tooth requires a large filling, the inside of the tooth has already sustained irritation. Teeth respond differently to treatment. The dentist is not at fault for redering care. The patient is responsible for the original condition of the tooth. There could be an internal fracture due to habitual clenching.

No: With the change of a filling or fixing deep decay you run the risk of the nerve dying and the need of root canal.

Yes, No, Maybe?: I can't give you a better answer than that. I didn't examine you, see x-rays of the tooth nor treat you (nor watch what the dentist did or did not do). I understand how you might feel relating the two in a cause\effect relationship, but teeth often require rct even with the best dentist doing all the right things. Who is at fault for getting the cavity in the first place?

NO: Root canal is a consequence of an old filling probably cracked, leaking, with caries underneath. Root canal will eliminate the infection and crown will protect the tooth. Dentist is ok.

Not necessarily : Without more information it is impossible to tell. With any larger cavity you run the risk of needing a root canal and/or crown.

Usually the cause is large deep cavity that has gone untreated for a long time. Then surgery has to be done to remove the infection, and if close to the tooth pulp the plural tissues may be unavoidably damaged by the decay or the surgery. Appropriate Rx is root canal/crown or extraction/implant/crown.

Fillings don't result in the need for root canal therapy... a deep carious lesion (usually caused by neglect and lack of dental care) resulted in a very compromised tooth. The damage to the nerve in the tooth occured before you made the appointment to be seen. Glad you were able to safe the tooth and not have to extract it.