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(720) 464-7277 
Find A Location A toothache that keeps coming back can make it hard to eat, sleep, or think about much else. If you are searching for a root canal in Thornton, our team at The Dental Team’s Thornton South office will look for the cause and explain your options. If the soft tissue inside a tooth is inflamed or infected, root canal treatment may let you keep that tooth and get comfortable again.
Root canal therapy, also called endodontic treatment, is one way to treat a tooth that has deep decay, a crack, or an injury affecting the pulp
The decision starts with the affected tooth, its supporting bone, and your overall oral health. We examine the tooth, take X-rays when needed, and talk through what treatment can realistically do. Sometimes the tooth can be saved with root canal therapy and a final restoration. Sometimes an extraction is the healthier choice. You’ll know why we recommend a particular path before treatment begins.
Beneath the enamel and dentin is pulp: tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. Deep decay, repeated dental work, a crack, or trauma can irritate or infect it. The process is also known as endodontic therapy. Inflammation in the pulp can be painful because the tissue is enclosed within the hard tooth. Root canal treatment removes the affected pulp from the small channels inside the tooth’s roots. It can help prevent further infection around the root tip and surrounding bone, although a tooth with a large abscess may need more involved care. The canals are then disinfected, filled, and sealed. The tooth stays in your mouth, so you can continue to use your natural bite after it is properly restored.
The treatment addresses the inside of the tooth, but it cannot undo every kind of damage. A tooth with too little sound structure, a vertical root fracture, or severe loss of support may not be restorable. That is why an examination matters more than guessing from pain alone.
Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when biting, a persistent toothache, tender gums, swelling near a tooth, a bad taste, or a small bump on the gum can all signal a problem. Some patients notice tooth discoloration. Severe pain is one reason to call promptly, but the absence of pain does not rule out infection. An infected tooth can also stop hurting while the infection remains. These symptoms do not automatically mean you need a root canal; a crack, gum problem, or another condition could be responsible.
If swelling spreads, you develop fever, or swallowing or breathing becomes difficult, seek urgent medical care. For a painful tooth that needs prompt attention, contact our Thornton emergency dental team.
We first examine the tooth and review your X-rays. If root canal therapy is appropriate, the treatment area is numbed with local anesthetic.
A small opening allows access to the pulp chamber and canals. The affected tissue is removed. The canals are cleaned, shaped, and filled with a biocompatible, rubber-like material before the tooth is sealed. Your dentist may use a protective barrier to keep the area clean and dry during the procedure. A temporary filling may be placed until the tooth receives its final restoration.
You should feel pressure or movement, not sharp pain. Tell us if you do, so we can pause and address it. Appointment length and the number of visits depend on the tooth’s anatomy, infection, and the treatment plan. A back tooth often needs a crown after root canal therapy because it carries substantial chewing force. Follow through with that restoration; a treated tooth can fracture or become reinfected if it is left unprotected.
When a tooth can be saved predictably, root canal treatment preserves your natural tooth and avoids creating a gap. Extraction removes the tooth and may be necessary if it cannot be restored or does not have enough healthy support.
Neither choice should be made in isolation. A missing tooth may affect chewing and allow neighboring teeth to shift. If removal is recommended, we can discuss tooth extraction and whether a bridge, denture, or dental implant fits your goals. We’ll explain the likely sequence, how to maintain the replacement, and costs before you decide. A consultation can help you make an informed decision without committing to treatment that day.
Mild discomfort or tenderness in the tooth or jaw for a few days is normal for many patients, especially if the tooth was sore before treatment
Follow the instructions we give you for over-the-counter pain medicine, eating, and cleaning around the area. Avoid chewing hard foods on a tooth with a temporary filling or unfinished crown. Keep brushing and flossing regularly, and return for the final restoration and any follow-up your dentist recommends.
Call us if pain or swelling is severe, gets worse instead of better, your bite feels unusually high, or the temporary filling comes out. Root canal treatment removes the diseased pulp, but it does not eliminate the need for regular dental care.
The aim is simple: treat the problem inside the tooth and keep a useful natural tooth in place. Many treated teeth last for years with a sound restoration and routine care, but no treatment comes with a lifetime guarantee. New decay, a crack, or persistent infection can change the outlook and may affect chewing function. We’ll tell you what we see at your follow-up visits and what to do if symptoms return.
Local anesthetic is used to numb the tooth and surrounding area. You may have some tenderness afterward. If you feel sharp pain during treatment, let us know right away.
Symptoms are clues, not a diagnosis. Your dentist checks the tooth, surrounding tissues, and X-rays, and may test how the tooth responds before recommending treatment.
Antibiotics alone generally do not remove an infection inside a tooth. Definitive dental treatment, such as a root canal or extraction, addresses the source. Antibiotics may be considered in certain circumstances, such as signs of spreading infection.
Often, especially for a molar or a tooth with a large filling. The final restoration depends on how much healthy tooth remains and where the tooth sits in your bite.
Yes. A treated tooth can develop a new problem or fail to heal as expected. Depending on the cause, retreatment, another procedure, or extraction may be considered.
An infected pulp does not heal on its own. Waiting can allow pain, swelling, or damage to progress and may make the tooth harder to save. If you are unsure what is happening, an evaluation is the right first step.
Some root canal procedures are completed in one or two appointments; others need more. The tooth involved, the shape of its roots, and any infection influence the plan. The final crown or filling may be a separate appointment.
Cost varies by tooth, complexity, the final restoration, and your coverage. We can review a treatment estimate and insurance and financing options after an exam.
If a tooth is hurting or you’ve been told you may need a root canal, schedule an evaluation at The Dental Team’s Thornton South office, 8451 Delaware St., Thornton, CO 80260. Call (720) 464-7277 or book an appointment. We’ll explain what we find and help you choose the next step.
