Dental Crown Pain

When there is tooth decay that extends beyond the dentin and into the pulp, then there is need for root canal treatment. However, if there is very deficient tooth structure present, due to which there are high chances of fracture of the tooth, then there is normally need to prepare the tooth surface and cover it with a dental crown. Sometimes, even when there isn't any caries, a person may chip his tooth to such an extent that there will be need for root canal treatment and restoration with a crown. However, after treatment, people may complain of dental crown pain. There are many causes of dental crown tooth pain that have been enlisted below.

Improper Root Canal
One of the most common causes of dental crown pain is an improperly done root canal procedure. This can lead to root canal pain. This could happen if there is a little bit of pulp tissue left in the canal or if the filling in the canal overextends into the periapical region. Thus, this can lead to pain that is actually in the tooth but might be interpreted as dental crown pain. It may also be felt as temporary pain when seen in relation to cases of trauma that need an immediate temporary crown for aesthetic purposes.

Impingement on Gingiva
Another common cause of pain associated with a dental crown is if the crown is ill-fitting. This can lead to either overextension of the crown, in which case it will lead to impingement on the surface of the gums, thus, causing swollen gums around tooth. If the crown is too small in height, then it could lead to exposure of a part of the prepared tooth surface. This exposed portion tends to act as an area where food particles and microorganisms can get lodged, leading to swollen gums and infection and pain.

There can be many causes of an ill-fitting crown. The laboratory that prepared the crown may not have managed to fabricate one that fits perfectly, or the dentist, while taking an impression of the tooth, might have ended up taking an inaccurate impression. At other times, the impression may distort before the dentist gets a chance to pour it, due to which he may land up with a faulty cast. Another reason why a person may land up with an ill-fitting crown is if he ends up fracturing the prepared surface of the tooth, due to which the crown may be too loose.

Recession Induced Sensitivity
At times, when a person has a long standing crown, due to slow and slight impingement of the crown on the gingiva, there could be a receding gum line. This could lead to exposure of the root surface of the tooth. This exposed root surface is much more sensitive than the crown. Thus, this can lead to increased sensitivity to hot and cold food, which may manifest as dental crown pain.

Injury to Tooth While Flossing
When a person gets a crown, he needs to be extra careful to take care of the region, so as to not allow any food particles to lodge in this region and become a hub of microbial activity. However, very overzealous flossing or brushing may lead to trauma to the gingival tissues in this region, which could lead to bleeding gums and pain.

It is best to visit a dentist if there is pain associated with a dental crown, as timely intervention could lead to failure of treatment. However, by maintaining dental care, one can avoid any problems associated with dental crowns altogether.