Bite Pain Remains After Crown Prep - Normal?

[ckiggins]

My #3 tooth (1st molar from the back on the right side) had an old amalgam filling for about 15 years. Upon moving and coming to a new dentist, during my normal checkup it was said that the tooth had some decay under the existing amalgam and needed to be replaced.

Three weeks ago my dentist drilled out the old amalgam and replaced it with a composite filling.

About 2 weeks later (a week ago), I bit down on some jelly beans and felt a sharp pain. At that point I had both hot and cold sensitivity and bite sensitivity on the tooth, but it was not lingering and went away immediately after the stimulus was removed. I went back to the dentist on Friday thinking that the filling had cracked or come out. After an exam and x-ray, it was discovered that the tooth was cracked on the lingual side. Given the pattern of pain and the x-ray, the dentist said she didn't think that it required a root canal at this time (the pulpitis was symptomatic of being reversible at this point) but did suggest a crown to protect the tooth.

We went ahead and had the crown prep that day and she placed the temporary. She mentioned that I would still likely have some sensitivity while we waited for the permanent crown to come in but did not specify what type(s).

The hot and cold sensitivity is completely gone since placement of the temporary, however I still can not bite on the tooth, especially on the outer edge of the tooth where the crack is/was.

Is it normal to still not be able to chew on the tooth with the temporary? And should this pain go away when the permanent is placed? I'm sure the temporary is not keeping the crack together all that well, and that's where this pain is coming from.

There is no ongoing or lingering pain (only when I try to bite on it) - I have been trying to do all of my chewing on the other side and keep off the temporary altogether.

 

[katylayney]

This is exactly what I just went through and am currently going through. I had a crown for your exact reasoning. The crown hurt the three weeks I had it on, mostly only when I bit down on it, I couldn't even eat bread on it. I got the permanent crown put on three weeks later and it hurt to get it changed and I told the dentist my concern about it hurting but he put the permanent crown on anyway even though I explained to him about the pain..he said it was normal. It's been a week since I got the permanent crown placed and still I absolutely can not chew on that side. I've decided to go to another dentist because it just does not seem right. I go first thing in the morning.

 

[ckiggins]

I've decided to go to another dentist because it just does not seem right. I go first thing in the morning.

I would be interested to know what your new dentist has to say...thank you for your response!

 

[rob wain]

i would recommend to both of you that you get the bite checked initially as a small fault can cause precisely the symptoms you've described.

 

[ckiggins]

i would recommend to both of you that you get the bite checked initially as a small fault can cause precisely the symptoms you've described.

Rob, I went to my dentist yesterday - she had me bite on articulating paper and found that the temporary needed a fair amount of adjustment. It didn't feel high to me when I closed my mouth normally, but she said the bite was off - made adjustments 3 or 4 times.

I still had some pain when I bit down on t he tooth yesterday - my dentist is hoping that the "off" bite had irritated my tooth and that this pain would now subside over the next week since the bite is now adjusted.

Does this sound accurate to you? Would the bite pain subside gradually instead of instantly with the bite adjustment?

 

[rob wain]

yes that sounds plausible.
You should however notice an improvement in a few days.
If in doubt your dentist could always temporarily fit the new crown with a soft cement to see if it settles before using a strong glue.

 

[katylayney]

yes that sounds plausible.
You should however notice an improvement in a few days.
If in doubt your dentist could always temporarily fit the new crown with a soft cement to see if it settles before using a strong glue.

I went to my dentist whose been working my TMJ for years and he did a bit check and he said my teeth don't even touch so its not due to being high...turns out, I need a root canal! I had a feeling that something was wrong when the crown hurt for so long and I even told that dentist I felt that something was wrong and that the pain was abnormal but he insisted on putting the new crown on and NOW I need a freaking root canal. It's going to cost so much money because I'm maxed on my insurance so I'm looking into getting it pulled because I can't live with the pain. Was the dentist wrong in putting a crown on when I even asked 'are you sure I don't need a root canal?" and he didn't even do an xray!!