Does getting a crown hurt after a root canal?

A root canal is a major procedure, so pain after a root canal is normal. A root canal involves deep cleaning inside the canals (the inner chamber of the root) of your tooth, which can in turn irritate surrounding nerves and gums.

The pain shouldn’t last forever. In fact, a root canal is meant to help you avoid pain related to a decaying or fractured tooth. It’s normal to experience mild to moderate pain for a few days after a root canal. Any pain beyond this point may warrant additional cleaning of the canals or other procedures from your dentist.

Initial recovery period

In the past, root canals were extremely painful. This is one reason why people sometimes avoided such procedures. Dentists now have pain-relieving measures that can be used to reduce the amount of pain you experience during the procedure.

Before the process begins, your dentist will apply a local anesthetic that minimizes pain. You might still feel pressure during the cleaning, but you shouldn’t be in pain during the actual procedure.

As the local anesthetic wears off after the root canal, you might experience mild pain and sensitivity. This is related to the cleaning process. During the cleaning process, your dentist makes a small opening in the crown of the tooth and cleans out diseased pulp inside the pulp chamber of the tooth. While uncomfortable, any pain and sensitivity following a root canal should only last a few days.

Since the pain experienced after a root canal is usually mild, you’ll likely only need over-the-counter pain medications for relief. These include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB). You’ll want to check with your doctor before taking these medications to make sure they don’t interact with any supplements or prescriptions you already take.

You should also avoid chewing hard foods immediately following the root canal, as this can induce more pain.

When to seek help

Root canal pain should decrease over time. If you still experience pain or swelling, you should see your dentist. Most people need one to two sessions for a root canal to be successful. In severe cases, you may need more cleaning sessions. Recurring pain could be an indicator of this.

Your symptoms should ease up if you’re taking any over-the-counter pain medications. If they don’t, your doctor may recommend prescription-strength ibuprofen or narcotic pain relievers. These are only taken on a temporary basis.

Once your tooth is completely treated, your dentist may put a crown on top of it. These can be made of metal, porcelain, or gold. The idea here is to prevent future damage to an already delicate tooth. Sometimes pain is a temporary side effect as you get used to a newly placed crown.

Pain management

Pain beyond a root canal should be addressed with your dentist. Beyond taking medications temporarily, there are other things you can do to manage pain from a root canal. Taking care of your teeth is a must, and you should avoid hard and crunchy foods until your pain improves. Quitting smoking can also help.

You may even consider stress-relieving activities as a method of pain management. Meditation, yoga, and tai chi are all practices that can also take your focus off of your pain.

Outlook

A successful root canal can cause mild pain for a few days. This is temporary, and should go away on its own as long as you practice good oral hygiene. You should see your dentist for a follow-up if the pain lasts longer than three days.

An alternative to a root canal is a tooth extraction, in which your dentist can replace a damaged tooth with a bridge, partial denture, or implant. This can be an expensive treatment and usually requires several visits to your doctor.

If you’re a candidate for a root canal, you’ll likely experience less pain over time. According to the American Association of Endodontists, you’re six times more likely to be pain-free than someone who chooses not to have a root canal.

Tips for oral health

Good oral health practices can help alleviate pain from a recent root canal. These can also help your new crown last for many years while protecting all your other teeth. Consider the following tips:

Dental crowns help cover and protect a damaged tooth from decay or injuries preserving the natural tooth and providing it the strength to function appropriately. However, while covering and protecting the natural tooth, a dental crown does not safeguard you from pain in the crowned tooth. In reality, the tooth getting the crown is just as susceptible to discomfort as your natural teeth.

Your dental crown can hurt for many reasons. This article provides you with information to learn what causes dental crown pain and how to alleviate it.

Dental Crowns Explained

Dental crowns are caps cemented over a decayed or damaged tooth to cover the visible portion of your natural tooth. The crown is responsible for restoring the tooth’s shape and size and providing protection to your natural teeth. Besides protecting your natural teeth, dental crowns are also beneficial for supporting dental bridges and implants.

Different materials like metals, porcelain, and ceramic help make dental crowns that you might need to restore large cavities challenging to repair with fillings, discolored or misshapen teeth, cracked and weakened teeth, and replacing missing teeth by supporting dental bridges and implants.

The dental crown placement procedure causes some discomfort as the dentist in Encinitas, CA, files your natural tooth from the tops and sides to make space for the restoration before taking impressions of the tooth to have it fabricated in a dental laboratory. Therefore some pain while getting dental crowns is expected, although you receive painkillers for management.

Causes for Pain in a Crowned Tooth

Various reasons are responsible for causing pain in a crowned tooth. Some reasons that might cause discomfort from the dental crown.

Tooth Decay beneath the Crown

The dental crown is an artificial restoration over your natural tooth, which remains alive beneath the crown. The tooth is prone to tooth decay, or new cavities can form near the border of the crown and the tooth. The condition can result in persistent pain. If the cavity expands to affect the nerve, you will require root canal treatment.

Infection

If you didn’t undergo a root canal before dental crown placement, the underlying has nerves, and the dental crown puts pressure on the nerves for infections to occur. Infections can also occur from old fillings beneath the crown to leak bacteria infecting the nerve. The symptoms of infections include pain when biting, fever, sensitivity to temperatures, and gum swelling.

Gum Soreness from Dental Crown Placement

You might experience temporary discomfort after dental crown placement. However, the pain should not last for over two weeks. Unfortunately, if it does after getting dental crowns near you without subsiding after two weeks, you must discuss the issue with the provider for assistance.

Ill-Fitting Crown

The dentist ensures you get a proper fit when getting a dental crown in Encinitas to protect your tooth. However, if the crown isn’t fitting correctly, it might lead to pain and affect your bite and smile. Pain when biting indicates the crown is too high on the tooth. Dental crowns can adjust to your bite like your remaining teeth. However, if your bite doesn’t feel proper, it can lead to jaw pain and headaches.

When to Visit Dentists for Advice?

If you experience severe pain in the tooth that doesn’t subside, getting advice from a dental professional is optimal to relieve your discomfort. The dentist might recommend that you may need root canal treatment, crown replacement, or tooth extraction.

Treating Dental Crown Pain

The treatment for pain from a dental crown depends on the severity of your discomfort and the reasons for the pain. Simple measures that can help relieve your pain include over-the-counter pain relievers, salt water rinses, and herbal remedies. However, their effectiveness is not scientifically proven, and avoiding problematic foods such as refraining from having sticky, sugary, and hard foods after dental crown placement. Instead of scorching or freezing foods, you must also have foods at room temperature.

Grinding and clenching your teeth can also cause dental crown pain. In such cases, your dentist might recommend treating bruxism with night guards and splints to help you overcome the problem.

After dental crown placement, you can expect some discomfort that should subside after a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, if you have the conditions described in this article, you must discuss the issue with your dentist to determine your problem.

Steve B Horne, DDS — Encinitas, CA, provides dental crowns in the region to protect your damaged, infected, or missing tooth. They also offer treatments for dental crown pain. If you experience discomfort from your placement, please do not hesitate to contact this professional today to overcome your discomfort.

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