How to Cope with Dental Crown Pain at Home
Dental crowns are one of the most common restorative dental procedures, with over 2 million crowns being placed each year nationwide. As is common with any medical procedure, patients may suffer from mild pain following the placement of a dental crown.
If you are experiencing pain following dental crown placement, Dr. James M. Stein, Dr. Brett E. Stein, and our team of compassionate dental professionals here at Stein Esthetics in Boston, MA, are ready to help.
Why Do Dental Crowns Cause Discomfort?
While dental crowns are intended to relieve pain resulting from damaged teeth, some patients may experience mild pain following the dental crown procedure.
The most common causes for dental crown pain include:
- Inflammation at the site of the crowned tooth
- An incorrect fitting of the crown
- Irritation in the root of the tooth if a root canal was needed
For some patients, sensitivity to temperature may also follow the dental crown procedure.
How Do You Cope With Dental Crown Pain at Home?
Suffering from mild pain is a common side effect following the placement procedure. To cope with dental crown pain following the placement procedure, there are a few simple strategies to handle the agitation as your tooth gets acclimated to the new or temporary crown.
- Brush with toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Toothpaste for sensitive teeth is intentionally designed to avoid irritation in these areas.
- Avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages. It is best to eat and drink food and beverages that are mildly warm or room temperature for a few days.
- Use over-the-counter pain medication. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are two effective medications to relieve pain.
- Wear a mouthguard. If you grind your teeth at night, this may disturb the crown and cause further pain. Keep your smile protected while you sleep.
In addition to the strategies above, a few all-natural remedies can also be used to relieve discomfort.
- Rinse with warm saltwater. Repeat this several times a day to clean the area.
- Apply tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar. Due to their anti-inflammatory properties, applying a dab of tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar to the affected area may help to reduce swelling and soothe pain.
- Eat foods with anti-inflammatory properties. Eating foods with natural anti-inflammatory properties, such as cucumbers, spinach, and kale, may reduce inflammation and help with the pain.
When to See a Dentist
After trying some of the at-home remedies above, it is possible for the pain to still persist at the site of the dental crown. If this is the case, contact our Boston dentist to refit the crown if it is not sitting on the tooth correctly or check for further underlying problems, such as root damage.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
If pain from a dental crown persists beyond the first few days following the placement procedure, schedule an appointment with a dentist today. At Stein Esthetics, our team of dental professionals is standing by to assist you. Call our Boston office at (617) 227-6076 or request an appointment online to schedule your appointment