What not to do if a tooth hurts under the crown

“Do not contact a third-party specialist,” advises dentist Yulia Permyakova. — In the practice of doctors, there have been cases when a patient decided to remove a tooth without even reporting the symptoms to the person who put the crowns on him. You can always eliminate unpleasant symptoms and preserve the structure. Also, do not listen to advice from the series “it happened to me too”: each case is individual. 

The dentist also warns against self-medication, including advice found on the Internet. Often the results of such “therapy” take a very long time to correct.

When you need to see a doctor urgently 

Do not hesitate to visit the dentist under any circumstances if you have the following symptoms: 

heat;

the pain lasts longer than two to three days;

the gums are swollen, suppuration, fistula or bleeding have appeared;

tooth mobility;

it hurts to chew.

You should also consult a doctor if your tooth hurts under the crown during pregnancy or breastfeeding.  

“We must understand that discomfort, firstly, worsens the quality of life,” explains dentist Yulia Permyakova. “And secondly, there are situations where ignoring a problem or postponing a visit until later will lead to serious health problems. And here the intervention of doctors may be required, including hospitalization. 

Prevention of toothache under a crown 

The main rule is regular hygiene. Ask your doctor which brush and paste you should use after installing a crown. Do not neglect dental floss and irrigator - this will keep the interdental spaces perfectly clean. Visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and professional cleaning. It is better to avoid nuts and hard fruits, very hot and cold drinks. 

Dentist advice

“Installing crowns is an expensive business, so take it seriously,” advises dentist Yulia Permyakova. — Choose a clinic carefully, read reviews about the work of the orthopedic dentist. Be sure to find out how to contact your doctor if problems arise after installation. Find out right away which medications to take in an emergency. Don’t hesitate to ask if you can see a doctor if he changes jobs. 

Questions and answers

We asked dentist Yulia Permyakova the most popular questions about toothache under a crown. 

Why can a tooth under a crown hurt if the nerve is removed? 

“Many people are surprised that a tooth can hurt even after the nerve is removed: after all, it is “dead.” These people are partly right: the tooth loses sensitivity. However, the tissues surrounding the root still remain “alive.” They become inflamed and begin to hurt. Each case is individual, I'm just talking about the most common reason.  

A tooth hurts after a crown is installed: what to do? 

- Any self-respecting doctor is responsible for his work in a year, two, five or ten years. Therefore, be sure to see a doctor. Any tooth from which the nerve has been removed “lives” in a state of chronic inflammation. And an aggravation can happen at any moment. The tactics in this case can be conservative - you are simply prescribed anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drugs. It may be necessary to adjust the design taking into account the bite in order to exclude occlusal trauma, because while wearing the crown, new fillings could have been placed, the surface of some teeth could have worn off, or teeth could have been removed. The position of the crown changes, it is “uncomfortable” and therefore the tooth may ache.

What folk remedies for toothache can be used? 

— The top popular advice is to apply a clove of garlic to a sore tooth. I do not recommend doing this because of the high risk of burning your gums. I am also careful about rinsing with a solution of salt and soda: it aggravates the process of suppuration. Therefore, I would still advise readers to use the traditional method: a painkiller tablet and an appointment with your prosthetist. By the way, many people put a pill on the tooth: there is no point in taking it, the medicine doesn’t work that way. 

List of sources

1. Zyuzina T.V., Ph.D., Ilyukhin I.A. Tooth root crack. Medical Council, 2011. URL: cyberleninka.ru/article/n/treschina-kornya-zuba