Dental Crowns – Putnam, CT

Does It Hurt to Get a Dental Crown?

As with just about any dental procedure that you would get from us, we will numb your tooth with a topical anesthetic before removing enamel or placing a dental crown. For that reason, you can rest assured that the time you spend in our chair will be completely comfortable.

During the period after your enamel is removed and you’re wearing your temporary crown, your tooth may be a little bit sensitive. However, this should be fairly mild so long as you take care not to agitate the tooth. Until you can get your permanent restoration, over-the-counter pain medicine should be plenty to keep you feeling comfortable.

• As with fillings, your dentist will numb the tooth they’ll be working on when you get a crown.
• Usually, all it takes is a topical anesthetic, but severely nervous/anxious patients may benefit from sedation.
• Your tooth is numbed during the preparation phase, but not always for the final crown placement. If you’re getting a traditional crown that takes two appointments, your dentist might not administer anesthetic when removing the temporary and placing the permanent crown. Of course, they should ask you beforehand whether you’d like to be numbed.
• After the preparation (and, to a lesser extent, the placement) of a dental crown, the tooth will likely feel sensitive for the next few days, particularly if you’ve also had a root canal. Taking OTC pain medications should help, but call your dentist if the discomfort worsens.

Keep in mind that since crowns protect vulnerable teeth from damage, they may very well prevent further pain in that tooth later on.

Are Dental Crowns Permanent?

Dental crowns aren’t permanent in the sense that they don’t last forever. However, getting crowns does require you to permanently remove a portion of your enamel, which means that you will always need a dental crown to cover the altered tooth.

The trade-off of this is that dental crowns themselves last for quite a long time—around 15 years—and can keep a damaged tooth around for much longer than they would have otherwise.

• While technically not permanent, dental crowns are definitely a long-term solution. On average, they can protect your tooth for anywhere from five to 15 years.
• When your dentist reshapes your tooth for a crown, that procedure is irreversible. Tooth enamel cannot grow back after it has been lost, so that tooth will always need a crown for protection moving forward.
• That being said, crowns protect the underlying tooth from additional damage, helping the tooth to survive for much longer than it likely would have otherwise.

You can keep your crown in great shape for many years to come by taking good care of it with daily oral hygiene, regular checkups/cleanings, wearing a mouthguard/nightguard, etc.

How Do You Know When a Dental Crown Needs to Be Replaced?

There are a few warning signs that your dental crowns need to be replaced, and if you notice several of them, it’s a good idea to visit our office so that we can check on the integrity of your restoration.

The first is any visible damage, like chips or cracks in the crown. You should also be concerned about any pain or unusual sensitivity, as this is a sign that your restoration is no longer protecting your tooth. Finally, you should be wary if you notice your crown feels loose, or if you feel it move while you chew.

If these signs start to crop up, come to our office. We’ll perform an x-ray to determine whether it’s time to swap out your dental crown.

• The only way to know for sure whether a crown needs replacement is to have X-rays taken or to have it visually examined by your dentist.
• That said, certain warning signs indicate that a crown is approaching the end of its lifespan. These include:
• Pain – If there’s decay underneath the crown, the crown must be removed and the cavity treated. From there, the dentist can evaluate whether the crown can be reseated onto the tooth or if it should be replaced altogether.
• Instability– If you feel as if your crown is loose, especially when chewing something sticky, contact your dentist.
• Noticeably worse appearance – If the crown is chipped or discolored, it can negatively affect a patient’s self-confidence. This is reason enough to replace it.

Dark line at the crown’s base – With porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, the porcelain layer may chip off or wear away, revealing the darker metal portion. This may indicate that the crown has been through a great deal of wear and tear and might need replacement in the near future.

Is It a Dental Emergency If Your Crown Falls Off?

Losing a dental crown doesn’t necessarily constitute a dental emergency, i.e., you don’t have to drop everything and immediately run to our office. However, even if the tooth doesn’t hurt, it’s still a good idea to deal with this issue sooner rather than later. The only exception is if your tooth is jagged or sharp and could damage the soft tissue in your mouth.

If you do lose your dental crown, you should keep it and bring it to our office—it may be possible to replace it. In the meantime, you might cover your tooth with dental wax and avoid chewing on that side of your mouth.

• Losing a dental crown isn’t an urgent dental emergency, but you should still call your dentist and schedule an appointment within a few days.
• The only time you’d need to be seen sooner than that is if the underlying tooth has sharp edges that could harm the soft tissues in your mouth. Until your visit, place a piece of dental/orthodontic wax (which can be found at most drugstores) or sugar-free gum over the tooth for protection.
• Even if the tooth doesn’t hurt, it’s important to have the crown reseated or replaced fairly quickly. Otherwise, the tooth is more vulnerable to decay, breakage, and other damage. Not to mention, it may be more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.
• Try to avoid chewing with the tooth until your appointment.
• Bring the crown with you to your dentist’s office. If the crown is still in one piece, the dentist might be able to simply bond it to your tooth again. However, if it’s damaged, it may need to be replaced.