It’s normal to experience pain, discomfort, sensitivity for the first few days after a dental crown procedure. As you recover, the pain and inflammation linger for a few days, and should slowly subside over time. If the pain and discomfort associated with a temporary crown persist even after 2 weeks, you must return to your dentist for a follow-up as it could indicate a problem with the crown. It could be loose, infected, fractured, the wrong size, or poorly fitted for the tooth it’s specially designed for.
Dental crowns protect damaged teeth, they can cause pain and can also be infected just like normal teeth. The pain associated with a tooth crown is uncomfortable, at times severe, and can make you feel sick.
But it’s relatively simple to get rid of it through medication or a follow-up visit to your dentist. Let us look at the expected symptoms after crown placement, also when you should be worried about them.
What’s the purpose of a temporary crown?
Temporary crowns are tooth-shaped covers placed on a natural tooth. A temporary crown is used to protect the natural tooth until a permanent crown is made available and it can be fixed in place.
Temporary crowns are usually more delicate than permanent crowns and, it is crucial to be extra careful when you brush or floss your teeth when you have them in place.
Expected signs and symptoms after temporary crown placement
During the treatment, a dentist uses a special resin cement. It glues the dental crown to the affected teeth. This cement is acidic and can sometimes react with your teeth underneath it.
In this circumstance, it’s normal to experience discomfort, pain, and sensitivity to hot and cold things. The sensitivity and pain you may experience are also normal for a few days post the procedure.
If it continues after a few weeks of the procedure, you must see your dentist immediately.
Your gums may be sore or inflamed after the tooth preparation procedure. To alleviate this discomfort, you may do a warm salt water rinse. Add one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm and swish it around your gums and the insides of your mouth and then spit it.
If you experience too much pain and discomfort, you must visit your dentist and have the source of the pain treated or reexamine it.
Some people find it helpful to have simple analgesic medication and apply an anesthetic gel on the gums, available in most pharmacies for gum sensitivity-related problems.
When should you worry about your temporary crown placement?
There may be many causes of pain with crown placement. Some things are expected and, sometimes the cause of pain could be something unexpected. Like an infection, dry socket, fractures, improper placement, and a dry socket.
The source of the pain can be due to damage to the temporary crown. All these situations warrant a visit to the dentist immediately.
1. Infection
Some patients with dental crowns have not undergone root canals, which means the root is still present. When a crown is applied the wrong way, it can put pressure on the nerve root which leads to infection eventually.
When the dentist places a crown over an old dental filling, it can also result in an infection and, the bacteria can leak to the nerve. This produces pain and discomfort.
2. Tooth decay
One of the most common reasons for any tooth-related pain is decay.
Decay can be harder to spot when it occurs in between the tooth and the crown or in the back teeth. Tooth decay can spread to tooth roots if left untreated. You may require a root canal if this happens.
3. Dry socket
A dry socket occurs when an adult tooth is removed and forms a blood clot at the site.
This situation requires dental treatment to keep the area clean and free of any bacteria. If you have a dry socket, you must seek immediate medical help.
4. Fractures
Crowns that have endured injury or trauma usually develop fractures and breaks in them. It may not be visible to the naked eye but, bacteria can build up over time and, an infection can develop in the small cracks of the fracture.
The bacteria usually makes its way to the fracture through your mouth. These cracked crowns will need to be filled by your dentist as it poses a risk for infection if left untreated.
FAQs
How can I relieve tooth crown pain?
After the procedure, you won’t feel your gums and have any sensation in the affected area because of the anesthetic.
Before the anesthetic effect fades, doctors usually recommend taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen every 4-6 hours and follow the below routine.
– Avoid sticky food for the first 24 hours.
– Medications manage your pain and inflammation. Along with pain, soreness and sensitivity are normal.
– A warm salt water rinse is recommended to manage soreness and irritation post the procedure.
You can manage your pain and discomfort with medications and saltwater rinse this way. However, if the pain persists over 2 weeks, call your dentist’s office for a follow-up visit.
How do I know if my tooth crown is infected?
Pain associated with crown infection is usually due to cavities, gum recession, and fractures.
The pain is usually located in the jaw and sometimes extends to the head and neck. You may also experience sensitivity to hot and cold beverages and have a fever.
Another tell-tale sign of infection is that the pain won’t go away and stays longer than 2 weeks. You must see your doctor if this happens.
Takeaway
After temporary crown placement, patients experience pain and discomfort as a normal part of the recovery process. Medications help to manage most symptoms effectively and support in a smooth recovery.
Patients should be aware of the risk of the crown getting infected, decayed, or having other problems. It is crucial to follow a good dental care regimen and brush and floss your teeth daily after temporary crown placement.
