Dental Crowns – Do They Hurt?

If you have a severely damaged tooth, you may need to get a dental crown to protect it from further harm. Though the procedure will help preserve the tooth and rebuild your smile, you may be wondering if it will hurt. Putting off getting a dental crown can actually lead to worse complications and pain in the future. To help ease your worries, here’s what you can expect from a dental crown procedure and the many benefits it can have on your oral health.

Does It Hurt?

Since your dentist uses a local anesthetic to numb the area during a dental crown procedure, you won’t feel any pain. The numbing effects last a few hours, and you may experience a bit of tenderness in the area over the next few weeks. Take over-the-counter pain relievers, like aspirin or ibuprofen, to help manage and sensitivity or discomfort you may feel.

What If I Don’t Get a Dental Crown?

If you decide against getting a dental crown to repair and protect a damaged tooth, you’re actually more likely to experience severe pain and other oral health complications in the future. With everyday use, the compromised tooth will ultimately begin to break down and may even need to be extracted. Dental crowns can help keep the tooth functioning properly and make your smile look fuller and healthier.

How Does the Procedure Work?

The dental crown procedure is usually spread over two appointments that span the course of a few weeks. Your first appointment is when your dentist will prepare the tooth that will be receiving the crown. They will file down the tops and sides of the tooth so there’s enough room for it to fit with your other teeth and so it won’t hinder your bite. A filling may be necessary to build up enough tooth structure for the crown to go over if too much of your natural tooth is missing.

Once tooth preparation is complete, your dentist will take impressions. These will be sent to a dental lab where they will use them to design the dental crown. A temporary crown will be placed to protect the tooth while you’re waiting on the permanent one to get back from the lab. Once your dentist has received the permanent crown, they’ll have you come in for a second appointment to have it placed over the tooth.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Along with protecting the tooth from further damage, dental crowns also provide pain relief by protecting damaged teeth from pressures or outside temperatures. They also improve oral function by making it easier for you to eat without experiencing pain or discomfort. Additionally, dental crowns can improve the appearance of your smile by covering up or correcting chips, discoloration, misshapen teeth, and other aesthetic issues.

If you have a compromised tooth that desperately needs a dental crown, modern technology and a local anesthetic will make the procedure easy and pain-free. The sooner you have the tooth repaired, the sooner you’ll be able to get back your full, beautiful smile!

About the Practice

When searching for a new dental practice, finding one with a friendly, respectful, and attentive team is a must. Dr. Jacob Milner and the team at Dolfield Dental of Owings Mills are all that and more. Over the past decade, they have built up an excellent reputation within the Owings Mills community for being a caring, patient-centered practice you can trust. They offer a number of restorations, including dental crowns, to restore and rebuild your smile as well as local anesthetics to make the procedure a painless experience. Visit their website or call them at (410) 902-4110 to learn more.