Hi there,
My back teeth were in need of crowns, so my dentist and I decided on CEREC crowns. I had three of my back teeth crowned last week, but ever since then, I’ve been having this intense pain. Whenever I chew something hard or crunchy, I feel a jolt of sharp pain. My dentist believes that my pain is caused by the way I chew using my back teeth, and offered to shave down the crown. However, that didn’t help. I avoid eating anything that I fear will irritate my tooth. Is the pain from my CEREC crowns? I’ve never had this pain before. I’m not sure what’s causing it, and I’m not sure what to do.
Thank you,
Rhys, from Baltimore, Maryland
Hi Rhys,
The pain you’re describing likely comes from one or two sources. The first source is, as your dentist suggested, from how your teeth hit the crown. If your bite hits the crown higher than predicted, it can cause discomfort and sensitivity. Your dentist shaved down your CEREC crown to avoid this, but since it did not work, your bite is not likely the cause of the pain.
The second reason you may be feeling pain is due to a tooth infection. If the ligament connecting your tooth and jawbone has become inflamed, it can cause pain when biting or chewing. If left untreated, it may turn into a dull, constant ache.
You should get an x-ray of the affected area to see if an infection is causing your pain. If an infection is the cause, you may need a root canal to treat it. If your dentist does not do many root canals at his office, it may be best to seek treatment from a root canal specialist.
CEREC crowns are more than just fast and convenient – they usually fit better because they are milled from a high-tech computer based on a digital scan of your mouth. The pain you’re experiencing is most likely from an infection rather than the CEREC crown itself.
This blog post is brought to you by Enfield CEREC crown provider, Dr. William Cummiskey.