Hi Cherry,

Sometimes teeth do not form properly and can decay from the inside out. Other times there is an opening someplace in the tooth or the restoration that allows bacteria to enter. Often times, root canaled teeth will decay around the gutta percha filling material that was used during that procedure to fill the large canals. All of which can look like the decay is forming from the inside out.

The reason bone grafting is done at the time of the extraction is to encourage the growth of new bone to fill in the voids where the roots use to be and to help prevent the sinus from dropping down into the void. Without the graft, you will lose about 50% of the bone level. With tooth #15 since it is in close proximity to the sinus, there would be even less bone rejuvenation as the sinus will drop down into the area of where the tooth use to be. Both of which means if you wanted to replace this tooth with an implant later on, it would be difficult and may require a sinus lift and bone graft.

If you have had this type of decay occur in other teeth, then you may have a dental anomaly meaning some of your teeth may have not formed properly.

By any chance is this tooth or the other teeth like this root canaled?

Bryanna


QUOTE=Cherry0105;947654]I have a tooth #15 that has been decaying from the inside out, the dentist recommended that the tooth be removed. I have since scheduled the tooth to be extracted, I noticed on my treatment plan a charge for bone replacement graft. Is it really nessesary to have a bone graft done? Do I have an option to reject the bone grafting? One last thing. What causes a tooth to decay from the inside out? concerned because this is the 3rd tooth that has done this, thankfully the others were caught in time.[/QUOTE]