How painful is getting a dental crown?

Getting a crown should be a virtually painless process from the first visit to the last. However, there is a certain amount of discomfort that can be caused after the procedure.

During a dental crown placement, the infected areas of the teeth are removed through dental drilling. Dental drilling is typically what causes discomfort. Your mouth will be numbed before any filling or fitting is done by your dentist. Edges of the crown may run into the gums cause soreness, inflammation or swelling during and after the crown procedure. Soreness can be remedied with the use of ice packs, cold compresses and over-the-counter pain medications. Any soreness along the gum lines should not last longer than a day.

Some patients may experience discomfort shortly after the procedure, particularly sensitivity to hot or cold. Using a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth when brushing can help to reduce this. Another issue is pain or sensitivity when biting down, which is most often caused by the crown being too high and obstructing the teeth on the opposite jaw. Fortunately, this can easily be remedied by adjusting the height of the crown.