Why Do My New Dental Crowns Still Hurt?
In September, I had two upper left crowns replaced. I wore temporary crowns for almost four weeks while waiting for the final one. As I wore the temporary crowns, they started to smell, leave a bitter taste in my mouth, and become painful. My dentist said that the new crowns would resolve the issues. The pain increased after I received my final crowns. When I returned to the dentist, he said my bite was probably off. He drilled to correct my bite, but now that pain comes and goes. It hurts to chew and bite down on the left side of my mouth. I am afraid that I have tooth infections and will need dental implants if I continue to let my dentist experiment on my teeth. What can I do? Thanks. Oakley
Oakley,
Almost four weeks is a long time to wear temporary crowns. We understand that your experience is frustrating. Although you need an exam and X-ray to determine the cause of your discomfort, we will discuss some causes of problems with temporary and permanent crowns.
Pain and Odor with Temporary Crowns
If your temporary crowns begin to smell and hurt, microscopic particles are trapped between the crowns and your teeth and breed bacteria. The bacteria affect the dentin (the layer beneath tooth enamel) and irritate it. The tooth beneath a crown can begin to decay.
Why Do Your New Dental Crowns Hurt?
Dental cement that bonds a new crown can irritate your tooth. If a tooth is already sensitive, the sensitivity may temporarily increase but gradually decrease and go away. When sensitivity does not improve, the tooth may be infected. Your dentist might need to perform root canal treatment on the tooth.
Pain When Biting with a New Crown
If you feel pain when biting or chewing with a new crown, your dentist should adjust your bite until you are comfortable. Even tooth ligaments are sometimes irritated, and your dentist would need to x-ray the roots to see their condition.
If your dentist cannot resolve sensitivity with your new crowns, we recommend that you get a second opinion to prevent the need for dental implants.
Rocky Hill, Connecticut, cosmetic dentist Dr. Thaddeus Michalski sponsors this post.
Why Are My Gums Peeling Around New Dental Crowns?
I’ve had six upper dental crowns on my front teeth since July 2021. The crowns for my left front tooth and the one behind it irritate my gums. My gums around the crowns swell and peel. Also, when I floss between the crowns, my gums bleed.
Although I asked the dental office for an alloy certificate, they gave me a document that says the crowns are GC LiSi Press, which I looked up online. The crowns are lithium disilicate, so I guess the problem may not be a metal allergy. I have not had metal allergies in the past, anyway. My concern is that the crowns are new. Something about them is unhealthy if my gums are irritated. What can I anticipate with my dentist? His treatment options seem a little pushy, so this time, I am expecting him to recommend dental implants to avoid future problems. – Thank you. Bethany from Virginia Beach, VA
Bethany,
Although Dr. Michalski would need to examine your gums and crowns, we will provide information on lithium disilicate crowns and sensitivities.
What Causes Peeling Gums and Irritation Around Crowns?
Peeling gums, bleeding, and irritation around crowns with a metal foundation can be an allergic reaction. If you have non-metal dental crowns, gum irritation may be related to food particles caught between your gums or a functional problem with the crowns.
The next time you floss your teeth, pay attention to whether anything seems to catch the floss or prevent it from moving freely. If you feel a ledge snagging the floss, your dentist must correct the overhand on the crowns.
It is unlikely that the concerns you describe are problems with your tooth structure or health that require removing your teeth and replacing them with dental implants.
What Are GC LiSi Press Crowns?
GC LiSi Press crowns are metal-free, high-density lithium disilicate. We are unaware of lithium disilicate allergies, but we cannot say that it is impossible to be allergic to the material. Still, if you were allergic to lithium disilicate, you would react to all the crowns, not just two.
Schedule an appointment with your dentist for a thorough examination.
Rocky Hill, Connecticut, cosmetic dentist Dr. Thaddeus Michalski sponsors this post.