Dental Crown Sensitivity Pre-Treatment Checklist

Check What Your Tooth Is Actually Doing

Start with the sensitivity itself. Pay attention to when it occurs instead of jumping to the conclusion that your tooth is “sensitive”. Was it cold water that seemed to trigger it? Did sweets make it worse? Did you bite down hard on something and it shot a pain right up your tooth? It all depends on what is going on beneath the surface.

See if there is a difference between how long the pain lasts for after the trigger and when it goes away straight after. A sharp sting is not the same as a lingering ache.

A Few Details Worth Noting

• Short-lived cold sensitivity especially if it has been occurring around the time the tooth being crowned.

• Pain that lingers on after the cold sensation has passed should be mentioned to your dentist as it could mean that the tooth requires further investigation before the crown can be fitted.

• Pain on the act of biting. If you notice that you are getting discomfort on one side of your jaw when biting down, this is definitely something you should mention.

• A sudden increase in sensitivity. This could be that your tooth was fine last week, but seems to be really bothering you this week. It’s best to get it checked out just in case.

Tell Your Dentist About Previous Treatment

As crowns are commonly fitted to teeth that have required previous treatment, your dentist will need to know about this so that they can take this into consideration when getting ready to fit the crown. You may have had a big filling in the tooth, it may have been cracked or perhaps root canal treatment has been performed. Any of these issues can effect how your dentist will approach the fitting of the crown.

Get the Tooth Checked Before the Crown

Getting your tooth checked over before fitting the crown should not just be about the dentist being able to confirm that the tooth actually does need a crown. The dentist may carry out further tests to check for any decay, cracks or gum disease and whether the nerve inside the tooth is not inflamed.

The dentist may also check the alignment of your bite. A tooth that is under too much pressure when you bite down can remain uncomfortable and this is not something that can be resolved by simply fitting a crown.

Before Your Appointment

Practical advice here includes brushing your teeth as normal and eating sensibly unless otherwise advised by your dentist. It also helps to write down any triggers that seem to aggravate the sensitive area.

If you are worried about discomfort being caused during the treatment, it helps to mention this beforehand. There is no point in faking a smile when you are being held down on an uncomfortable chair. Who wants to do that?

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