You've got nerve!

Yes we all have nerve and that is not always bad...except when it comes to tooth nerves!
Sometimes when decay removal extends into the nerve area we have no choice but to recommend removal of the nerve...also called root canal therapy.
Here is a case where a patient had an all gold crown on a tooth...and the arrows point to several defective margins which allowed bacteria and other nasties to get in...

When I removed the crown it was not a pretty sight underneath...fig. 2..lots of decayed area...ugggh!

Well this required a huge excavation...and by the time I reached healthy solid tooth...I had also reached the very top of the nerve, see arrow in fig. 3.

This patient was sent to a specialist for root canal treatment and when he returns he will have new porcelain crown placed...in the meantime I was able to make the patient comfortable with a large tooth colored buildup...which will also make it easy for the root canal specialist to do his work...