In early October, I received 3 lower left crowns and eight veneers on my upper teeth. I have severe pain in my lower jaw. My gums don’t hurt. I have jaw pain. One lower tooth hurts so badly that I can’t eat soft bread. My dentist told me to keep taking ibuprofen because I had a lot of dental work done in a few days. He said I might need a root canal for the tooth that hurts. I think I’m taking too much ibuprofen, although the pain is so intense. It doesn’t help that I am starting to grind my teeth at night because of the stress and pain. Should I still be in pain after two months? I’m afraid that I might lose my teeth and need implants. How do I know that a root canal will work? I cry about this almost daily. I no longer trust my dentist but am afraid to switch to a new one. How can I resolve this? Thank you so much. Lystra from TX
Lystra,
Please avoid taking excessive amounts of ibuprofen, which can damage your liver or kidneys.
How Long Should You Feel Pain After New Crowns and Veneers?
When you get new dental crowns or veneers, they should not hurt. Tenderness or sensitivity for a few days is common, but what you are experiencing is abnormal. You should never feel pain for two months after cosmetic dentistry treatment.
Get a Second Opinion
Ask about sedation options to relax you during procedures
Quickly find another dentist for a second opinion to examine your restorations. Consider whether you can benefit from dental sedation to calm your anxiety, and speak with the dentist about it. You might need digital X-rays to identify the source of your pain. Your current dentist may be right about your painful tooth needing root canal treatment. It sounds like faulty dental work might have damaged your tooth. It’s best to proceed with root canal treatment if you need it to prevent an extraction and dental implant.
Although it can be difficult, be patient about achieving your long-term goals for your smile. Your dentist’s work needs correcting before it worsens. Focus on regaining good oral health.
David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Finley, Dr. Henderson, and Dr. Coughran do to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.
