Root Canal Therapy
Tooth pain that’s sharp, constant, or gets worse with hot or cold usually means the infection has reached the nerve inside the tooth, and it rarely gets better on its own. Root canal therapy removes that infected tissue, cleans the inside of the tooth, and seals it, addressing the source of the pain rather than just masking it. As part of our Restorative Dentistry services, it’s also what lets you keep the tooth instead of losing it to extraction. Emerald Dental provides root canal therapy at both our Lakewood and Littleton offices.
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Smile Fact
Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, yet it cannot repair itself once it is lost.
What Is Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy treats infection or deep decay that has reached the pulp, the soft tissue inside a tooth containing nerves and blood vessels. The infected tissue is removed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and shaped, and the space is sealed to prevent the infection from coming back. This can happen when a cavity is left untreated, when a crack lets bacteria reach the inside of the tooth, or after an injury. Most teeth are then capped with a crown to restore full strength and function.
How Root Canal Therapy Works
Exam and Diagnosis.
You’ll describe what you’re feeling, whether it’s pain, sensitivity, or swelling, and get a full exam with digital X-rays to see what’s happening beneath the surface before anything is recommended.
Treatment.
The tooth is numbed, the infected tissue is removed, and the inside is cleaned, shaped, and sealed. Many root canals are completed in a single visit, though some cases need a second appointment depending on the tooth and how much infection is present.
Restoration.
Once treated, the tooth is typically capped with a crown to restore its strength, since a tooth that’s had a root canal is more prone to fracture without one.
Occasionally a treated tooth develops a new problem later, or infection persists at the tip of the root despite treatment. In those cases, retreatment or a minor surgical procedure called an apicoectomy can still save the tooth without extraction.
Benefits of Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy gets an unfair reputation, when in reality most patients feel better immediately afterward, not worse.
Relieves the pain and pressure caused by the infection, not just masking it
Saves your natural tooth instead of requiring extraction
Avoids the bigger cost and process of replacing the tooth with an implant or bridge
Stops the infection from spreading to surrounding teeth or bone
Most procedures are completed in a single visit
Why Emerald Dental for Root Canal Therapy
Every root canal at Emerald Dental starts with a real conversation about what you’re feeling, then a full exam before anything is recommended, not just a scheduling call. We use modern anesthesia and technique specifically because the old reputation root canals have doesn’t match how the procedure actually feels today. Both our Lakewood and Littleton offices offer the same standard of care, whether you’re already in pain or catching a problem early. Meet our doctors on our About Us page.
What Patients Are Saying
Real feedback from real patients across our Lakewood and Littleton offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is root canal therapy painful?
No, not the procedure itself. The area is numbed before any treatment starts, and most patients say the appointment is far less painful than the toothache that brought them in, since the infection is usually what’s causing the pain, not the treatment.
How long does a root canal take?
Many root canals are completed in a single visit, typically within an hour or two depending on the tooth. More complex cases, or a tooth needing retreatment, may take a second visit.
What should I expect after treatment?
Mild soreness for a few days is normal and usually manageable with over-the-counter medication. Most patients are back to normal eating and activities the same day or the next.
Can I go back to work or school the same day?
Most patients do, especially since local anesthesia wears off within a few hours and there’s no extended downtime built into recovery. Some prefer to take the rest of the day easy simply because of the appointment itself, not because the procedure requires it.
Will the tooth need anything else after the root canal?
Most teeth are capped with a crown afterward, since a tooth that’s had a root canal loses some of its structural strength and is more prone to cracking without one. Your dentist will let you know at your visit whether your specific tooth needs that extra step.
Stop the Pain at the Source
A toothache that’s gotten worse over days rarely goes away on its own, and root canal therapy treats the actual infection instead of just numbing the symptom. Emerald Dental provides root canal therapy at both our Lakewood and Littleton offices, often in a single visit.
Find Us
Two Convenient Locations
Both offices are open Monday through Thursday and accept new patients of all ages.
Lakewood
Emerald Dental Lakewood
12093-A West Alameda Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80228
Littleton
Emerald Dental Littleton
2731 W Belleview Ave, Littleton, CO 80123