What is this weird sensation I feel with my new dental crown?

I have a new crown but feel a strange sensation in it. After I received the crown in mid-July, I returned to my dentist about the problem. My dentist said he could re-cement the crown or make a new one. I thought that it was better to choose a new crown. The new crown was ready in early August, but my bite still did not feel right. The tooth is not painful, but it feels strange. Am I going to need another new crown? I am beginning to wonder if this is an issue with the crown or if the crown preparation somehow damaged my tooth. Thanks for your help and advice. Darren from Idaho

Darren,

When a dentist places your crown correctly, it should feel like a healthy natural tooth. You not notice that you have a crown. Sometimes, even bite adjustments are not enough to resolve the discomfort because the problem lies beneath the crown.

Uncomfortable New Dental Crown

If discomfort in your crown lingers, get a second opinion, and ask for an x-ray. Sometimes, decay beneath a crown can cause lingering discomfort. If the problem tooth previously had root canal treatment, you would not feel pain or have a toothache. Your symptoms might be vague and difficult to describe.

What Causes Tooth Decay Beneath Crowns?

Tooth decay beneath a crown can occur in these instances:

• Bacteria or plaque gets trapped beneath the crown
• Root canal failure
• Lingering decay or infection that a dentist covers with a crown

Depending on the condition of your tooth and how much tooth structure is left, the second opinion dentist may recommend

• Adjusting the crown
• Remaking the crown
• Extraction, replacing the tooth with a dental implant, a new implant crown

After retreatment, your tooth and bite should be comfortable.

 

Thomas J. Goebel, DDS, of Moline, IL, sponsors this post.