Why Do I Have Crown Pain When Biting Down?

If you had a crown placed just recently and you have mild pain, it’s usually not something to worry about. It takes a little time for the tooth to adjust. So, in a few days, the pain starts to fade.

But if your dental crown hurts too much when biting down, it could be because of different reasons.

Your tooth is broken or cracked

One of the causes can be a crack or fracture in your tooth, which may even reach down to your pulp (inner tissue). As a consequence, when you eat something or bite down on your teeth, you may have excruciating pain.

This is more common with back teeth because they bear all the pressure of your bite.

Crown placement is too high

Normally, dentists remove a thin enamel layer to make room for your crown. But if the crown is placed too high or there isn’t enough space, you may feel a sharp pain when your opposing teeth bite down on it.

Your tooth underneath is infected

Although it may seem unusual, even under a crown, your tooth can become infected or decay. This is usually because of poor oral care. So, when there’s plaque buildup around the crown, bacteria may seep in and damage your tooth.

Habit of teeth grinding

Those with a habit of grinding their teeth or bruxism may have issues with their crowns or fillings. When they grind their teeth, there’s a lot of pressure, which may cause the crown to become loose or trigger pain in the tooth.

If you have dental crown tooth pain soon after your treatment, but it’s mild and tolerable, you may not need to stress over it. Just wait a few days to see if it gets better. Over-the-counter pain relief may help, if appropriate for you.

However, if the pain only gets worse or your old dental crown starts hurting, you should see your dentist as soon as you can. Delaying care can increase the risk of further damage under the crown.

It depends on why your crown hurts when biting down. After looking for the cause, your dentist can correct it by adjusting your crown if it has no high-pressure spots.

If the problem is with your tooth, they may remove your crown to treat the tooth before recementing it. And if the old crown is loose or can’t be fitted anymore, they’ll likely replace it with a new one.

Experiencing discomfort when you bite down on a dental crown could be because of a problem with the crown itself or the tooth it covers. The good news is that most of these situations are easily resolved. If you’re grappling with this issue and wondering about its severity, the dentists at ACE Dental of Texas are ready to assist. Give us a call to schedule an appointment!