Expert: Benjamin Schwartz, DDS FAGD - 11/1/2009

Question
i just got a permanent crown on my two back teeth.  the very back one is gold covers the complete tooth.  here is my question.  i got this done the 20th of October.  my jaw pain wakes me up at night.  my tooth does not hurt it is my jaw  from the back of my jaw by my ear clear down the side of my teeth.  i feel silly calling the dentist however, the pain is enough for 3 advil every night around 2 am. so i take advil around 9 because i know around 2 i am waking up to jaw pain.  plus the back of my gold crown feels like it is pinching my gum in the back.

Answer
Hi Juli,

First of all - you shouldn't feel silly calling the dentist! Especially when you are in this amount of pain!

Next - sometimes, when therapy is performed on a tooth (such as a crown preparation#, the tooth gets irritated. At times, it can become so irritated, that the nerve inside of the tooth dies. This will then lead to excruciating pain that wakes one up at nighttime. The solution to this problem is a root canal therapy. (No, they are not so scary! :o)

I would recommend following up with your dentist ASAP, as the pain will only get worse and can lead to further problems.