Alternative for dentist drill or root canal

[jinkx]

I understand that bacterias degrade the tooth, and in later stages the pulp/nerve.

Suppose a cavity has reached the nerve.
We kill all the bacteria using a anti infectant, and then seal the cavity. Will it stop the tooth from decaying further, since we have killed all the bacteria? In this way can we avoid the need for the dentist's drill or root canal? If no, why not?