Tooth Sensitivity after Dental Crown Treatment By Jeffery Hennigan, DDS on August 21, 2022

two dental crowns Dental crowns treat dental damage, including broken, chipped, or cracked teeth, helping to alleviate dental pain and preserve the smile.

One of the primary goals of dental crown treatment is to restore the health and appearance of a damaged tooth but sometimes patients experience tooth sensitivity after treatment. At Lake Area Dentistry, our team of dentists treat patients with dental crowns and tooth sensitivity issues in Lake Charles, LA, DeQuincy, LA, Sulphur, LA, and surrounding areas. If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity after dental crown treatment, we welcome you to schedule a consultation.

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity after Dental Crown Treatment

Tooth sensitivity after dental crown treatment is a fairly common side effect and resolves within a few days for most people.

When tooth sensitivity persists or becomes worse, it may be a sign that something needs to be addressed with the crown itself or the tooth supporting the crown.

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at what can cause tooth sensitivity after dental crown treatment.

Dental Nerve Damage

One possible cause of tooth sensitivity after dental crown treatment is nerve damage within the tooth.

The nerve tissue within the tooth may become damaged from crown placement or from issues with the tooth itself. For example, if bacteria is able to enter the tooth through a crack or cavity, it can infect the nerve and pulp tissues within the tooth, causing a painful root canal infection.

Inflammation after Treatment

One of the most common causes of tooth sensitivity after dental crown placement is inflammation.

Inflammation may occur as a result of the tissues within the tooth being irritated during the dental crown procedure.

In most cases, inflammation and the increased tooth sensitivity associated with it will resolve within a few days.

Issues with Dental Crown Fit

Placing a dental crown requires a small amount of the outer layer of the tooth to be removed. This allows the crown to sit in the same position as the underlying tooth.

Although great care is taken to make sure the crown will fit on the tooth properly, occasionally the fit isn’t quite right. This can cause the crown to sit too high or not in the right position, potentially causing pain and tooth sensitivity when eating.

Tips to Alleviate Tooth Sensitivity after Dental Crown Treatment

Most tooth sensitivity resolves within a few days of dental crown treatment but when tooth sensitivity increases or persists, it’s important to see a dentist to determine the cause of tooth sensitivity.

Some ways to treat tooth sensitivity after dental crown treatment include:

Crown adjustment: If tooth sensitivity is caused by an issue with the fit of a crown, a crown adjustment can help improve how the crown sits on the tooth and within the mouth.
Root canal therapy: When the nerve tissue within the tooth is damaged or infected, root canal therapy may be performed to remove the injured nerve tissue. Once the nerve is removed and the surrounding tissues heal, tooth sensitivity should resolve.
Anti-inflammatory medications: Tooth sensitivity caused by inflammation after dental crown treatment may be alleviated with ibuprofen or other over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.