Jaw and ear pain after crown

[gardner7]

On the first I had a molar on the bottom right side of my mouth prepped for a permament crown. The dentist said I didn't need a root canal but that a previous filling was cracked and a small cavity developed under it. During the procedure when he numbed the area the shot felt like someone electocuted my mouth but he said that is normal if you hit a nerve? The day after the bite still felt too high so I went back to have it adjusted and the dentist said since it is a temp it will be fine and sent me home without adjusting it. The next day my jaw started hurting (not near the tooth but way in the back by my ear and all the way down my lower right side of my jaw).  When I called the dentist he said to take ibuprofin for a few days then call back if the pain continued. The pain not only continued but got worse, to the point where I would wake up from it and have to take more ibuprofin and my ear started hurting. When I called to tell them this my dentist is on vacation for a week. I finally went to another dentist and had the bite adjusted yesterday (he also agree that it was too high). However my jaw still hurts today even with the bite adjusted and I'm not getting the permanant crown for another 10 days.  I don't think the tooth is dead because it is still somewhat sensitive. There isn't any swelling or pus. Why is my jaw hurting and not the tooth itself? Why is my ear hurting?

[Matthew Baron, D.M.D.]

If the bite is right now, the pain will subside over the next few days.  There is however, the chance that the tooth may need a root canal.  Sometimes even from the trauma of the crown preparation, a root canal may be necessary.  Give it a little more time now that the bite has been adjusted.

[mike1105]

if your temporary was high, your dentist should have adjusted it. period. ibuprofen is not the answer for a temporary that is too high, although it would be the correct thing to advise for lingering soreness from the injection, which is entirley possible as the cause for your discomfort. you can also have your described discomfort from your bite being off even for a day or two from the temporary being high. you can also have the pain fom the nerve in the tooth.. You shouold not be forced to simmer in discomfort for 10 days. If I were you I'd seek an appointment with whomever is "on call" for your dentist of record to evaluate your situation. If there is nobody "on call" or "covering" fo your dentist, then that should tell you something about his or her practice, and I would then consider seeing another dentist---in essence you've been left on your own, which is wrong.

[gardner7]

I thought the same thing. My temp just came off and I had to go back to the office and have the hygenist put it back on and OH MY GOD it was really sensitive when she cememted that thing back on. Plus now it feels a little high again and there is globs of cement sticking out. Should that tooth be sensitive?

[funkynina]

Is your tooth sensitive to cold or hot? Hot usually means it need a root canal the 1st dentist who responded to your question is correct the preperation of the tooth could have upset the nerve of the tooth. Did you go back to the dentist who prepared the tooth for the crown or the dentist who adjusted your bite to have it recemmented?  Not to be ugly or anything, but if a hygienist recemmented it and not a dental assistant she may not have done this very much and could have not cemented it quickly enough and that allowed the glue to dry and that is keeping it from being pushed down all the way. She may not have removed all the cement perfectly b/c she may have been afraid it would fall off again!

[gardner7]

Well I ended up switching dentists to the one who would adjust my bite. I tend to trust him a little more and he would at least show me things and explain what the heck is going on instead of just trying to give me pain meds and leaving on vacation without another dentist there. I should have trusted my feeling about the first dentist--- He wouldn't adjust my bite when I told him it felt too high, they Scotch taped the bib to your shirt, and no one in scrubs. the fackt that they let me leave their office in tears from pain yesterday should be enough indication that they really don't care about their patients. Luckily the other dentist saw me yesterday and had to take off the crappy temp crown with all of the cement sticking out. He made a new temp and is going to be taking care of this from now on. He explained that there is sort of a pinkish spot visible on the tooth and the means that the prep is close to the nerve. It wasn't bothering me until the girl started pusing on it to put the temp crown back on. It actually got visually bigger after that happened. He said that it was irritated from poking and exposure and the crown being too high for so long. He said that sometimes when they prep the tooth it does end up close to the nerve. Said it should subside a little but if not I will need a root canal. So far my jaw is starting to feel better and the tooth itself doesn't hurt since the new temp is on. Thank goodness this dentist numbed me to put the temp on and make molds for a new permanent crown so I didn't jump out of the chair in pain.
   Anyone know how to make a formal complaint against a dentist which in my opinion didn't do his job? I personally would love to get at least some of the money back to the insurance company that paid for this.

[mike1105]

for a complaint, call the state dental society. i had a feeling things were not right with the dentist--- it is wrong to leave a patient with a high temporary, and to leave town without having another dentist "on call". advil is not the answer. the scotch tape and the lack of scrubs is also unprofessional/unacceptable, and against OSHA standards. regarding your tooth, it is my opinion that if you can see the pulp (nerve) it is for practical purposes exposed and should have root canal. More than likely, although it is not 100%, the tooth will need root canal anyway. better to have it done before the permanent crown is cemented, although i discuss this with patients and let them make the final decision. secondly, while it is true that preparations can come close to the nerve and cause the need for root canal treatment, it is my practice to offer patients full cast metal (gold) crowns on molars (especailly lower ones that are not that visible). the reasons are threefold. 1. they feel more like natural teeth because gold is softer than porcelain which is hard like glass. 2. they cannot chip or crack and last longer--- oftentimes indefinitely if done well. 3. most importantly, they require less drilling on the tooth because they can be made thinner. this fact has prevented hundreds of root canals in my practice. there is no better restoration for molars than gold. I have 3 in my own mouth!!!! good luck

[mike1105]

PS-- call your insurance company. you did not receive your crown from the first dentist, and if they already paid him (they should not have because technically the dentist was not suppoised to submit a claim for the permanent crown until it is cemented--- and it obviously hasn't been) they will ask him to return the funds to them (the insurance company), and they will pay your new dentist instead. I would also write to the first dentist and explain exactly how you felt, and what you thought was wrong with his practice and the way you were treated, and ask for a refund of whatever copays you paid him (or her). asgain, good luck

[olddentist]

I agree with Mike1105.  Too many people have a metal phobia.  If it isn't going to show or only slightly show then gold is the way to go.

[Meggy51]

I am glad I am not alone with the pain experienced after my preparation for my crown. My tooth to be crowned is my upper right side (molar?) horrible place to try to get to! I was at the dentist for over 2 hours, today my jaw feels like someone very large punched me there. I like my dentist but talk about unprofessional! They kept having problems with the suction and I felt like I was drowning, The assistant placing my temp crown put my chair down and back all of the way and left me there for about 5 to 10 minutes, I asked her to please put me back up because I was getting a headache! This was after being tortured for 2 hours! I had to have a an additional shot because while my dentist was drilling I could feel it. Next time I'm just having my tooth pulled, never will I go through this again, I would rather have twins! I will tell everyone though, I have had a gold crown, done over 30 years ago, lower bottom right side, that dentist was great I even had a root canal and didn't mind! don't they use rubber dams anymore? It is very difficult holding your mouth wide open that long, was this the only way?

[swirleymel]

A related discussion, Pain in tooth/jaw after replacement of ceramic crown was started.

[chickorychick]

A related discussion, Ear discomfort and jaw pain after dental work was started.