Expert: Gary Backlund, DMD, MSD - 12/7/2009

Question
Dear Dr. Backlund,
Last January, after 45 years (since childhood) without needing any dental work beyond my regular semi-annual cleanings, I had to have two cracked molars crowned - top middle, both sides. Following the completion of each procedure, I had about a week of very slight pain and some minor sensitivity that gradually disappeared.  
This fall, however, after getting a third crown on a corresponding bottom molar, also cracked, I've continued to have sensitivity and slight pain for quite a bit longer - just over a month now.  Not pain, really, just discomfort and a reluctance to chew on that side.  The twinges seem to be diminishing, albeit gradually, so I'm hopeful that the healing process is underway and that the tooth (or nerve?) will calm down over time.  Is that a safe bet?  
BTW, the preliminary crown work on this one tooth was particularly difficult, requiring extra novocaine and causing 4-5 days of real soreness and a flare-up of TMJ on that side.  The final setting of the crown went easily, however.  
I want to give this tooth a chance to continue to settle down.  I certainly don't want a root canal.  But is it unwise to wait and see?  

Answer
Hi Rose,

Congratulaions are your GREAT dental health! It's hard to know at this point exactly what is going on. You could have just an irriatated tooth or you may be in the early stages of a tooth dying. In our office, we always are on the conservative side. We tend to watch things a lot before we commit to treatment. However, I don't know all the circumstances that went into your crown preparation, so if I were you, I'd call your dentist, tell him/her what is going on and follow their advice. All that said, there is rarely any harm done by waiting. The biggest downside risk is that you could develop more persistant pain.....and if that's the case, you might become a dental emergency. Seems to me to be a risk worth taking.

Hope this helps.

Gary Backlund DMD, MSD