Does Getting Dental Crowns Hurt?
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped sleeves worn over the natural tooth as a way of protecting, strengthening and improving the appearance of the affected tooth. They are also known as tooth-caps and are usually made from materials that closely resemble the tooth’s appearance like porcelain, composite resin, ceramic or zirconia. You can also find crowns made from gold, metal alloys and stainless steel. The procedure for getting crowns is fairly straightforward and often goes on without any complication. Nonetheless, each patient has their own unique experience of the procedure depending on factors such as level of fear and anxiety, number of teeth being treated, etc.
When Are Dental Crowns Used?
- To replace very large fillings that the tooth can no longer support. Usually, it is advisable to replace fillings with crowns if 50% of the tooth is already damaged.
- To offer protection to a tooth after a root canal.
- To replace missing teeth in combination with dental implants.
- To improve aesthetics by restoring any wear and tear to a tooth. Crowns can also be used where teeth are severely discolored, misshapen or when there is unnatural spacing between teeth.
- To repair broken cusps.
Pain During the Procedure
Getting crowns begin with you being sedated, and therefore you will not experience pain as the dentist works on your tooth. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area. If there is any kind of build-up that need to be done on the tooth, it will first be completed to ensure that the tooth has enough room to support the crown. This is an important step to ensure the crown is properly secured, especially if it is to be used on chipped or cracked teeth. Once the tooth is ready it will be shaved down to create room for the crown and then its impression is taken to help prepare the crown. At Copper Vista Dental, we offer same day crowns but if your procedure is to be complete over multiple appointments, you will wear a temporary crown as the permanent one is being prepared. Once ready the permanent crown will be fitted, adjusted and then cemented onto the tooth.
Is There Pain After the Procedure?
Most patients report experiencing some mild pain and discomfort around the treated area following a dental crown treatment. This is usually associated with bruising suffered during treatment and it is expected to fade away within a week. Although pain medication may not be necessary, people with low pain thresholds can still us analgesics like ibuprofen.
It is also common to experience sensitivity of the surrounding gums of the tooth being treated and this is just a reaction to the dental cement. Topical anesthetic gels can be used to relieve this together with using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
Generally, in the first few days patients are highly conscious of the crown but within a week or two you should be able to go about life without an issue. You should be able to speak, chew and bite without any issues or experiencing any kind of discomfort.
When Would A Dental Crown Cause Pain?
If the pain in your crowns is more than a mild discomfort, then it is important to contact your dentist and figure out what the problem is. Some of the reasons causing your crowns to hurt include;
- The do not fit properly and thus are causing interference to your bite. When crowns are not of the appropriate size or shape, you are likely to experience pain when you chew or bite. This requires that the biting surface of the crown be adjusted.
- It could be you are having inflamed nerves and thus there is need for additional treatment before fixing the crown. in most cases, when a tooth needs a crown there is a high chance that it is already damaged in some way. It is therefore necessary to ensure you do not suffer from an abscess or any unresolved issue before fitting your crowns.
When you are suffering from bruxism which makes you constantly grind your teeth. This action irritates your new crown and can also lead to premature damage. Have your dentist fit you with a mouthguard to minimize the effects of teeth grinding.