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Persistent Tooth Pain
Deep, lingering or spontaneous pain—especially pain that interrupts sleep—can signal inflammation inside the tooth.
A root canal treats infection or inflammation inside a tooth. By removing the damaged tissue, cleaning the canals and sealing the tooth, treatment can often relieve pain and preserve a natural tooth that might otherwise need extraction.
Symptoms do not always reveal the full condition of a tooth. An examination and dental X-rays help determine whether the pulp is inflamed or infected and whether the tooth can be restored.
Deep, lingering or spontaneous pain—especially pain that interrupts sleep—can signal inflammation inside the tooth.
Sensitivity that continues after the temperature is gone may mean the tooth nerve is irritated or damaged.
Swelling, tenderness or a pimple-like bump near a tooth can be a sign that infection is draining through the gum.
A tooth that hurts with chewing or pressure may have inflammation around its root, a crack or another problem that needs evaluation.
A tooth that changes color after an injury may have lost blood supply even when it is not currently painful.
Decay, repeated dental work or a fracture can allow bacteria to reach the pulp at the center of the tooth.
The tooth is numbed with local anesthetic. The dentist makes a small opening, removes inflamed or infected pulp, cleans and shapes the canals, then fills and seals the space. A temporary or permanent filling closes the tooth. Many back teeth need a crown afterward because they have lost substantial structure and face heavy chewing forces. The exact restoration depends on how much healthy tooth remains.
We begin with a diagnosis, explain the options and help you understand the next step. Treatment is based on your examination, health history and individual needs.
We review symptoms, test the tooth and take X-rays when needed.
The dentist explains whether root canal treatment, another restoration or extraction is appropriate.
The infected or inflamed tissue is removed and the canals are disinfected and sealed.
The tooth receives a filling or crown based on its condition, followed by routine monitoring.
Call promptly for increasing swelling, fever, a bad taste or difficulty opening your mouth. If swelling affects breathing, swallowing, the eye or the airway, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Star Dental welcomes new patients, accepts Health First Colorado Medicaid and most PPO plans—including many Delta, Cigna, Aetna, MetLife and Guardian plans—and has Spanish-speaking staff available every day. Benefits and coverage are confirmed for each patient. Same-day appointments may be available; call for availability.
Find us at 1490 S Sheridan Blvd in the King Soopers plaza, with free onsite parking and wheelchair accessibility. New patients should arrive 10–15 minutes early with photo ID and insurance information.
Finishing the work inside a tooth and completing its final restoration are related but different steps. Before you leave, confirm what was completed, whether anything temporary is in place and which appointment finishes the plan.
The dentist considers the diagnosis and whether the tooth can be restored. Ask what the full plan includes—not only the appointment that addresses the pain.
Root canal treatment removes the affected pulp, cleans the canal spaces and seals them. Your team explains whether that phase is complete or another treatment visit is needed.
A crown or another appropriate restoration protects and rebuilds the tooth. The choice depends on the tooth and remaining structure; a crown is not a universal requirement for every case.
Follow-up and regular dental care remain important after the final restoration. Ask which office is responsible for each visit if more than one clinician is involved.
The AAE’s root-canal explanation describes why the permanent restoration is part of protecting the treated tooth. Do not take relief from pain as confirmation that the whole treatment plan is finished.
For the days after treatment, read our root canal recovery and aftercare guide for eating, tenderness, an uneven bite and symptoms to report to your treating dentist.
Follow your team’s instructions and protect the tooth from heavy biting until it has the required restoration and you have been cleared to use it normally. Continue gentle cleaning as directed. Do not test its strength with a hard food or try to repair a temporary restoration with household products.
Contact the treating office if the temporary restoration comes out, the bite feels uneven, pain is severe or worsening, swelling appears or the original symptoms return. These are among the concerns highlighted in AAE post-treatment guidance. If swelling affects breathing or swallowing, seek emergency medical care immediately.
For instance, if you leave feeling much better but are unsure whether “the filling” is temporary or final, call and ask. Getting that detail clear helps you protect the tooth and keep the next visit on track.
Our root canal cost guide explains why treatment and restoration can appear as separate items in an estimate. For restoration information, see dental crowns. Call 303-222-1414 to clarify your plan or schedule the next step.
Editorial addition prepared by Star Dental · September 19, 2026.
Health First Colorado can cover qualifying root canal treatment and, when recommended and eligible, a final crown. The root canal and crown are separate benefit checks. Ask what remains for the tooth and which visit is booked.
Use this small organizer alongside the written treatment plan from your dental team. Keep it on your own paper copy; you do not enter medical or member details into this website. Ask the office to help fill in anything unclear.
For each remaining step, keep three answers separate: what the dentist recommends, what the office knows about that service's benefit, and what visit is actually confirmed. A completed root canal does not, by itself, confirm the benefit or appointment for the final filling or crown. A temporary step is not necessarily the end of the plan.
If another office has treated the tooth, explain what has been completed and what instructions you received. Ask how to share relevant records through the appropriate private process and who will arrange the next visit. Existing records help explain the history; they do not promise that every outside plan or approval can be transferred.
Keep these answers with your treatment plan:
| Your next-step note | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Clinical step | What is completed, and what service is recommended next? |
| Service-specific benefit | Has that service been checked for this tooth and date? |
| Unresolved item | Is anything awaiting information, review or clarification? |
| Appointment | Which visit is confirmed, where, and for what purpose? |
| Contact | Who should I call to follow through? |
For standard adult members, the benefit year and available limit can affect covered care, and prior treatment or tooth-specific rules can matter. Do not assume the rules for one service answer every item. Ask whether review is needed before treatment or with the claim. Our Medicaid restorative-care guide explains the policy details; this table organizes your next step.
Before ending the conversation, name one action: attend the confirmed assessment, arrange records, follow up on a specific pending item, or confirm the restoration visit. Do not postpone urgent recommended care simply to wait for a benefit renewal. Call 303-222-1414 for availability and explain what you need.
Record what has been completed for the tooth, what remains, which benefits are checked and who arranges the next visit.
Download English / Español PDF2 pages • 71 KBRead the sponsored Colorado Dental Medicaid Guide’s coverage checks for root canals and the final restoration.
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