Hey Dentist, You Were Supposed to Fix My Teeth — So Why Am I in Pain?

You go to the dentist for a routine checkup and learn that you need a crown or filling, so you give the go ahead for the procedure. You’re expecting to walk away from it with a mouth that feels strong and healthy, but — ouch! After your procedure, you find that the tooth your dentist worked on is in pain. Does that mean your dentist messed up? Well… no. Your dentist probably did everything just right. So why do dental crowns and fillings make teeth sensitive?

Tooth Anatomy 101

In order to understand why your teeth are sensitive after you get a crown or filling, you need to grasp the basics of how your teeth are constructed. Each of your pearly whites has four layers:

• The enamel. This is the hard outer layer of your teeth — in fact, it is the hardest substance in your entire body.
• The dentin. This yellowish second layer of your teeth is as hard as bone. It is the biggest part of a tooth, and it is full of tiny tubules that connect to the nerve in the tooth.
• The pulp. This is the material at the tooth’s center. It contains nerves and blood vessels.
• The cementum. This is the thin bony layer on the outside of your tooth’s root that helps to hold it in place.

Restorative Dentistry and Increased Sensitivity

When you have a cavity or dental injury, the sensitive inner layers of your teeth become vulnerable to further damage. That’s why tooth colored fillings and dental crowns are so important; they protect your teeth, giving them back their strength and structure and shielding the tooth’s nerve from stimuli that could cause you pain.

However, sometimes the steps toward protecting your oral health can have unpleasant consequences. Sensitivity might occur because of:

• A high bite. The tooth that got worked on now might be a smidge taller than it should be, meaning that it bears the brunt of the force when you bite down. This is usually a pretty easy fix; your dentist just has to adjust the crown or filling.
• Reversible pulpitis. Sometimes, your dentist has to use a drill when they’re working on your smile. The drill can irritate the pulp inside the tooth, causing it to swell up and become sore. In most cases, this isn’t a big deal. The pulp should calm down within a couple of days, and you’ll be back to feeling like yourself!
• Irreversible Pulpitis. If you had a very deep cavity, bacteria might have sneaked into the tooth’s pulp, causing the blood vessels to die off. This is painful, but your dentist should be able to relieve your discomfort with root canal therapy.

If you’re in pain after a dental procedure, don’t worry! If the discomfort doesn’t go away soon, simply call your dentist and find out what your next step is toward a healthy smile.

About Chester County Dental Arts

The doctors at Chester County Dental Arts are proud to serve folks in the Coatesville area, and they want all of their patients to feel confident when they step into the office. If you ever have any questions or concerns about work you need (or have already had done), please contact us at 610-383-1600.