What causes tooth pain after a crown

Preparing a tooth removes some enamel and dentine and can temporarily irritate the pulp, the living tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. Pain on biting often points toward a bite contact or damage around the tooth, while lingering heat or cold pain, spontaneous pain, or swelling raises concern about pulpal or periapical disease.

Note whether the pain is triggered by biting, cold, heat, sweets, or happens without a trigger, and contact the treating dentist for an occlusion check and examination. The dentist may inspect the crown margin, test the pulp, tap the tooth, take radiographs, and adjust the bite or treat the underlying tooth problem.

Seek prompt care for worsening or spontaneous pain, swelling, fever, a bad taste, a loose crown, or difficulty chewing. Facial swelling, trouble swallowing, or breathing difficulty needs emergency assessment.

Ask whether the bite is high, whether the pulp and root tissues respond normally, whether the crown margin is sealed, and what findings would require adjustment, replacement, or root canal treatment.