Sensitivity with dental crown on molar....?

Last month, I had a crown put on a bottom molar that already had a filling. The tooth had cracked. The dentist shaved down the tooth a bit, kept the filling in tact, but now I'm having huge sensitivity issues when I eat/drink. Eating yogurt, or cereal, or cold water, or wine....hurts. It's exactly like when I had my temporary crown on and could feel *everything*. (FYI - I require blocks for any dental work). I currently use a whitening toothpaste, but wonder if I need to stop that and switch to Sensodyne. I really don't want to go back to the dentist (have been there five times in two months. But if I need a different cement under my crown, I'll go in to make this irritation stop!

Sensitivity with dental crown on molar....?
Cold sensitivity on recently placed crowns is often due to the crown being even just a millimeter too high. You might need just a simple adjustment. It may not even feel high to you, but an adjustment (no anesthetic necessary) makes a huge difference. IF your fractured tooth had an "internal fracture" (you can't tell just by looking...only by symptoms), then you may need a root canal. The permanent crown should not have been placed if there was still sensitivity with the temporary crown. If you need a root canal now, then they either have to remove the permanent crown, or drill through it. A real bummer after you just paid that much for it. If your crown covers the whole tooth, than it won't matter what kind of toothpaste you're using, as they only work on natural enamel.





UPDATE: After reading the other responses, i still say that a simple adjustment may be all that is needed. :) Try the easiest route first.
Reply:Went to the dentist the next day and he said I had to have a root canal done....which I did that very same day!! It was painless and easy. Much happier now that I don't have any pain :) Not too happy about the $600 I had to pay, though!! Report It

Reply:Tooth instability compounded by the trauma from the crown preparation are probably causing the sensitivity. Unfortunately, the treatment of choice is an onlay that eliminates thefractures and completely seals the tooth. And even more unfortunate is that only about 120 dentists country wided understand these published treatment modalities. The truth is that a crown is the worst thing you can doi and in the long run, you'll probably end up with a root canal or a new crown.





To salvage what you have, if it doesn't improve in a years time, do not let them do a root canal. Have the dentist remove the crown,remove the old filling, refill the old filling then do a new crown. This generally takes care of the problem temporarily in about 85% of the cases.
Reply:I really love Helen's answer. Sensodyne may help a little. You may want to go to a different dentist.