Pain After a Crown Guide: Causes of Sensitivity or Pain After Placement and Signs That Need Treatment
Sensitivity to cold or an awkward feeling when chewing for a few days right after a crown is placed is a relatively common reaction. However, if the pain keeps getting worse or hurts even at rest, or the gums swell or form pus, the nerve inside the tooth may be inflamed and needs checking. If it hurts only when biting, the crown may be too high or the tooth cracked, so remembering in what situation it hurts and describing it to the dentist helps find the cause.
Key facts
| Causes of pulp damage | Severe cavities, fracture, periodontal disease and trauma, along with tooth reduction for a prosthesis (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal) |
|---|---|
| Symptoms that may need root canal treatment | Pain with cold or hot things, severe pain at rest, frequently recurring pus in the gums (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal) |
| Sensitivity after indirect restoration | Sensitivity may occur early on, and root canal treatment may be needed if severe (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal) |
| Abnormal sensation after root canal treatment | Usually disappears within several days to several weeks (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal) |
| Grinding and clenching | Discuss a device with your dentist to prevent wear and breakage of the prosthesis (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal) |
Is sensitivity after a crown normal?
To make a crown, the outer surface of the tooth must be evenly ground down, and in the process the inner dentin is exposed and the nerve can become temporarily sensitive. If, in the days to weeks after bonding, you get brief sensitivity to cold water that gradually decreases, it is often just monitored.
The KDCA National Health Information Portal lists tooth reduction for a prosthesis as one cause of nerve injury. For a tooth that already had deep decay, nerve inflammation can also appear after the crown is placed.
What kind of pain means going back to the dentist?
The National Health Information Portal lists pain when cold or hot things touch the tooth, severe tooth pain even at rest, and frequently recurring pus in the gums as signs that root canal treatment may be needed. If these symptoms appear in the tooth under a crown, do not put up with them; get examined.
Do not delay if it throbs on its own at night, if pain continues even after taking painkillers, or if your face swells. If root canal treatment is needed, a small hole is made in the crown for treatment, or the crown is removed, the tooth treated, and the crown remade.
- Sensitivity does not decrease after several days and gets worse
- Pain lingers long after the cold is removed
- Throbbing at rest or waking at night
- Gums around the crown swell or discharge pus
- Sharp pain at one point every time you bite
What causes pain only when biting?
If the crown is slightly higher than the teeth on the opposite side, force concentrates on that tooth and it hurts and aches when biting. In this case, slightly adjusting the bite often helps.
If it is sharp only when biting in a certain direction, there may be a crack in the tooth or root. The National Health Information Portal warns that biting hard food forcefully can fracture the prosthesis and the tooth together, and recommends discussing a protective device with the dentist if you grind or clench your teeth.
Why are the gums sore or swollen?
If the crown margin is close to the gum, the gums may sting or swell for the first few days. If leftover bonding cement is lodged under the gum or food builds up at the margin, inflammation can last a long time.
If the gums swell and smell bad long afterward, secondary decay under the crown, gum disease or inflammation at the root tip should be checked. Clean the margin with a soft toothbrush and use floss, but if swelling and pain continue, an examination is needed to determine the cause.
What should you do at home before seeing the dentist?
Do not chew on the crown side; eat on the opposite side and briefly avoid very cold or hot food. If you have only sensitivity, some people try sensitivity toothpaste and watch for changes, but if it does not improve after several days, get examined so you do not miss the time for treatment.
When you go to the dentist, it helps narrow down the cause to organize when the pain started, whether it hurts with cold or hot, when biting or at rest, and whether the pain disappears in seconds or lingers. If your face swells or you have a fever, get treatment right away.
Common myths and facts
Myth: A tooth with a crown has no nerve, so it cannot hurt.
A tooth that received only a crown without root canal treatment has a living nerve and can be sensitive or painful. Even a tooth that has had root canal treatment can hurt if inflammation develops in the gums or at the root tip.
Myth: Pain after a crown always goes away by itself over time.
Mild sensitivity often decreases, but if the cause is a crown that is too high, nerve inflammation or a cracked tooth, it will not heal on its own. If the pain grows or lasts, an examination is needed.
Frequently asked questions
How long does sensitivity last after a crown is placed?
It varies by person and tooth condition, but it usually decreases day by day. If it does not decrease and gets worse, or hurts for a long time after cold is removed, the condition of the nerve should be checked.
It has hurt since the temporary crown. Is that okay?
A temporary crown fits less tightly than the final one, so cold stimulation gets in easily. However, if throbbing continues, it is better to check the condition of the nerve before bonding the final crown.
Can I take painkillers for pain after a crown?
For temporary pain, a general painkiller you usually take can be used as directed. If painkillers do not settle it or swelling accompanies it, do not rely on medicine; have the dentist check the cause.
I had root canal treatment and a crown, but it still hurts.
The National Health Information Portal explains that abnormal sensation after root canal treatment usually disappears within several days to several weeks. If it still hurts when biting afterward or the gums swell, reinfection or a root crack is checked with X-rays.
My crown feels high. Will it adjust if I leave it?
A high crown does not adjust by itself and keeps putting a load on that tooth and jaw. If that tooth feels like it touches first when biting, get a bite adjustment.
Related topics
- Crowns, Bridges and Dentures
- Crowns, Bridges and Dentures
- Post and Core
- Root Canal Treatment Process
- Teeth Grinding and Clenching