Root Canal and Crown Issues

[Carrie0930]

Nearly five years ago I had a root canal performed on a back molar. It was an emergency root canal as I had shooting pain through my tooth and the tooth was absessed. I was told to go to my general dentist for a crown. I didn't get the crown, because I didn't have enough money. But my dentist put in a post and cemented it and said it should last for five years or so. Well, I am ready to get a crown now, the only problem is I'm worried. See, the tooth bothers me sometimes. It isn't really a toothache but if I tap on the back of the tooth, I can feel it, sort of vibrating through the tooth in a mildly painful way. When I had my last cleaning (and first one in years) I told the hygienist, but after looking at my x-rays, neither her or the dentist indicated any kind of problems with it. So I'm worried that I will get a crown and continue to have problems with it, and I can't afford something like that to happen.

Also, what exactly does the crown process entail? I'm worried that with my tooth bothering me when I tap on it that someone like prepping for a crown will really hurt, even if I have novocaine. I have had some problems in the past getting completely numb, especially with deep work.

I am also wondering why this tooth should be bothering me at all. Is it cracked and no one can see it? Is it normal pressure from the post? Is it bacteria in the tooth? I thought with a root canal all the nerves were dead and you don't feel anything.

I'm very confused and worried.

 

[Gordon]

My root canal treated teeth behave in the same way. I think it's fairly common, I'm sure some other posters on here have had the same thing?

Crowning a RCT'd tooth should be completely painless, the RCT removes the nerve in the first place, so it's just like getting your nails filed...

It's possible that once a crown is on there that the symptoms might improve, there may be a bit of leakage through the temp restoration on the tooth.

 

[Carrie0930]

That is a relief to hear! I hope they do improve. I have a cleaning in May and I am going to ask them about it then, since I plan on having the crown done in August when my dental insurance starts a new plan year. But that is definitely a huge relief to hear there's probably not something abnormally wrong with my tooth.

Also, sometimes when I wake up I feel like I have been clenching my teeth together (not grinding) so I'm thinking maybe that further irritates the tooth.

 

[angel43]

OMG-i cannot believe it, you have just described my EXACT problem word for word.
Had a sharp pain a couple of months back-went to my dentist who i trust 100% took xrays etc-established i needed rct, had it done. a week later was still in pain when eating and biting down on the tooth, went back, he took another xray said it had worked perfect, was one of the best he had ever seen. he decided it was too high in my bite so he filed it down and generally don't get any pain, i probably am a bit over cautious when i eat on it and i try my best to keep it clean last night however. . . . .i must of had a funny dream or my oh punched me in my sleep i woke up and had somehow managed to chip it and was sucking on the bit of tooth, have had no pain in it at all today and eating seems to be fine, have my crown booked to be done on 7th may but i'm now torn don't know whether to go tomorrow and get it sorted before i loose anymore of it not that i've really got the money for another month but what to do . . . . ?????????

 

[Gordon]

I'd ask your dentist to put in a temp filling until your crown appointment.