Oral Health and Genetic Risk Factors

Why Is Your Dental Crown Sensitive?

Once you've had your tooth crowned, you'll expect everything to go back to normal with the treated tooth. The crown replaces your natural tooth and deals with any problems you may have had. However, sometimes crowns can give you some problems after they're fitted.

For example, you may notice that your new tooth is quite sensitive. Why does this happen, and is it a problem?

General Crown Sensitivity

It's quite common to notice a little extra sensitivity after you've had a crown fitted. You may notice that your tooth hurts when you drink something that is hot or cold; sometimes, even just sucking in air makes the tooth feel a little sore. This should pass in a few days once the crown settles down.

If you didn't have root canal work done before the crown was put on, then you may be experiencing nerve sensitivity. Again, this shouldn't last too long.

Bear in mind that sensitivity may be more of an issue if you're wearing a temporary crown until your permanent one is ready. Temporary crowns don't necessarily have a perfect fit, so your tooth may be more exposed than it will be once your permanent crown is put on. If this is the case, then your tooth should be fine once you move to your permanent crown.

Sensitivity and Fit Problems

While general sensitivity to hot and cold things isn't unusual and usually passes quickly, other types of sensitivity may indicate a problem with the crown itself. For example, if your tooth hurts when you bite down with it, then the crown may not be fitted quite right. It may be sitting a bit lower than your other teeth.

Alternatively, in some cases, the crown may not fit over your tooth completely. If it doesn't give a full seal all over the tooth it covers, then even a tiny gap may make your tooth feel sensitive as hot and cold things hit the tooth's exposed dentin layer.

If you have sensitivity that lasts for more than a few days or if your tooth hurts when you bite, then go back and see your dentist. Your dentist may recommend that you use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth to deal with general problems to start with. An application of fluoride or a varnish may help cover any gaps. If the crown isn't positioned quite right, then your dentist can adjust it to get the right fit.


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