“Can crowns cause sensitivity?”

Your dentist is the source as this is more in his area of expertise. Orthodontic care is my area.

Any time a crown is done on a live tooth (no root canal), there is a chance for sensitivity to temperature changes and biting pressure for a short while. Reshaping the tooth for a crown can be traumatic to the pulp of the tooth, and there can be internal inflammation from that procedure resulting in those symptoms. Most of the time they go away in a few days. Before we prepare a tooth for a crown we always examine it visually and with x-rays to make sure that there is no evidence of infection or abscess. To be frank, often when a tooth needs a crown there has been a history of decay and/or trauma that may have already affected the pulp, sending the nerves and blood vessels on the path leading to the death of the pulp and an abscess. The interior condition of the pulp is not always discernable with x-rays, testing and observation. So when a crown procedure is performed to strengthen the tooth structurally, that procedure may be "the last straw" for the pulp, and extreme sensitivity can result, ultimately requiring root canal treatment to save the tooth. There are many successful crowns on vital or live teeth that never resulted in abscess. But a small percentage will deteriorate that way, and root canal will need to be done after the crown is already placed. But that percentage is so small that it would be unnecessary to have a root canal done on every tooth that needs a crown. Most root canal-treated teeth need crowns, but not all crowned teeth need root canals. It's more rare. Another factor that can cause sensitivity after a crown is a high bite. Sometimes, when you're numb from the procedure, it is difficult for you to feel that the bite is slightly high, and you may not even be able to move your mouth and jaws properly to demonstrate to the dentist that the bite is high. Then, sometime after the crown has been placed, usually just a few days, the tooth may be sensitive to temperatures (usually cold) and biting pressure. If that occurs, be sure to have your dentist check it out. Sometimes a simple bite adjustment is all that is needed to clear up the problem. I hope that I've answered your question! Dr. Conrad