Does Getting A Crown Hurt?
Dental crowns (something a lot of people refer to as “caps”) are special protective restorations that cover your entire tooth. Instead of smaller fillings that go inside of areas of decay to patch up a tooth, crowns encapsulate all remaining enamel and cover it up to the gumlines. They’re almost like a shell or helmet that goes over your tooth, sealing it completely inside. But since crowns are “larger” restorations, it’s common for patients to wonder if the treatment process is uncomfortable or painful.
Do They Numb You for Permanent Dental Crowns?
As with any type of restorative or cosmetic dentistry treatment, our Sarnia dentist will completely anesthetise (numb) the tooth that we’re working on. So whether you’re getting a crown or a small filling, your tooth will be numbed. Local anaesthetic numbs the tooth and surrounding areas for at least a few hours at a time. It wears off quite gradually, so sensation typically doesn’t come back until after you’re already back at home.
To keep you as comfortable as possible, we also use a numbing jelly to desensitise the skin at the injection site prior to administering the local anaesthetic. Dental sedation is also available, should you need help relaxing a bit further.
What Does Getting A Dental Crown Procedure Feel Like?
Dr. Karen Davis Dentistry offers same-day crowns, but traditional crown treatments typically require two separate appointments: the preparation visit and the final placement. The initial prep appointment is a bit longer and detailed, as it involves numbing the tooth, reducing the thickness of the enamel (so that a crown can fit over it), removing damaged areas, and taking an impression for our lab. A shade guide is used to select the most appropriate colour of porcelain for optimal aesthetics. While your permanent crown is being handcrafted in a lab, you’ll be fitted with a temporary crown to minimise any potential sensitivity. You’ll return about two weeks later to have the permanent crown fitted and permanently bonded in place.
Don’t have time for two visits? Fortunately, same-day dental crowns are now an option! Using advanced technology and 3D CAD/CAM imaging, we can create a single visit dental crown and eliminate the two-week waiting process. CEREC crowns are made in one appointment using our in-house digital milling equipment. This state-of-the-art technology carves a custom porcelain dental crown while you wait. So instead of needing two appointments, we can complete the entire process in just one. CEREC crowns provide maximum convenience and aesthetics, reducing your time spent in a Sarnia dental office.
How Long Does It Hurt After Getting A Crown?
Since your tooth is significantly adjusted during a crown treatment, it’s common to experience a bit of tenderness in that area for a couple of weeks as your dental nerve responds to the anatomical changes. However, if you’ve had a root canal on the tooth you should not experience any sort of sensitivity (as the tooth is no longer vital.) An over-the-counter pain reliever is typically more than adequate in managing mild sensitivity for the first few days. The majority of any tenderness actually doesn’t come from the crown, but rather the injection site where your local anaesthetic is administered. This minor soreness improves gradually after a couple of days.
Since dental crowns protect your damaged tooth, they ideally help you to treat tooth pain and sensitivity rather than cause it. The sooner you invest in this protective restoration, the better chances you have at saving your tooth.
Does Getting A Dental Crown Hurt After A Root Canal?
If you recently had endodontic therapy (root canal treatment) it’s extremely important to have a crown placed over your tooth at your earliest convenience. Since root canal treated teeth are no longer “alive”, their brittle enamel is more prone to advanced wear and fractures. Placing a crown over the tooth will help to protect it and won’t hurt whatsoever, as you no longer have a vital nerve inside of the root chamber.
Reasons to Get A Crown
“Why do I need a dental crown,” you ask? Crowns offer the next level of protection beyond that of a filling. Like root canals, they’re one of the last lines of defence our Dr. Karen Davis has against potential tooth loss. We may prescribe a dental crown if you’re experiencing situations related to:
- Root canal therapy
- Severe enamel wear
- Deep cracks or fractures
- Large cavities
- Replacing older, larger, leaky fillings
What if you don’t get a crown? Then the structurally compromised tooth structure will be likely to break and fracture during everyday use. Avoiding a crown today could lead to needing a root canal tomorrow.
Risks & Pain Associated with Avoiding Getting A Dental Crown
The greatest risks of dental crown treatment are actually associated with not getting a dental crown. When we fail to protect structurally compromised teeth, it’s simply a matter of time before the tooth breaks down with everyday use. Placing a crown over your tooth helps to extend the functional lifetime of both the individual tooth and your overall smile. And like any other type of restorative or cosmetic dentistry in Sarnia that we offer, your comfort is extremely important to us. You can expect each crown to be applied in a gentle, caring manner. In contrast, avoiding crown treatment would put you at risk for serious pain and dental emergencies in the foreseeable future.
Getting CEREC Dental Crowns in Sarnia
CEREC same-day crowns save you time, energy, and cut your trips to the dentist’s office in half. CEREC incorporates the same CAD/CAM scanning and 3D milling you see in other medically advanced technology.
CEREC crowns utilise durable ceramics that can be carved onsite while you relax (or catch up on other dental treatments). That means only one appointment, only one anaesthetic application, and immediate same-day results.
Considering a same-day dental crown in Sarnia? Contact Dr Karen Davis Dentistry today to request a consultation.
