CL & Post temp crown pain

[amina832]

This is my situation.  I had deep cavities in the last 2 teeth on my lower left side.  They had fillings but it had decay under the fillings, however, I wasn't feeling pain.  The dentist told me he would clean the decay and refill.  However, I ended up having to get the crown lengthening procedure because there wasn't enough tooth left to attach the crown. I got the CL almost 2 months ago and I waited a month to let the gums heal.  I went 2 weeks ago to get the tooth prepped for the permanent crowns and my dentist put temp. crowns on for now.  I have felt pain everyday since getting the temps on.  The pain comes and goes throughout the day and it goes away with tylenol. However, I have been taking medicine for months for these 2 teeth. I have never taken more medicine ever in my life.  The pain actually stopped a week before I went for the temps and prep & now it started again. I am willing to pay or do whatever to make the pain stop.  To be specific, the 2 teeth are not sensitive to hot or cold liquids, I am still not chewing on that side though.  The pain just comes out of nowhere, like a throbbing pain.  I asked if I needed  a root canal in either tooth and he said no.  What could be the possible causes of this pain? There is one temp that covers over both teeth(connected).  I am waiting for my next appt.  Lastly, I feel that the teeth above these two teeth are also starting to hurt since my last appt.  I don't know if they are really in need of attention (since the pain just started) or if it could just be pain related to the bottom two teeth?? Any advice would be great!

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Probably best to let the dentist do it.  What we do is put a cold cotton pellet or something like that on each tooth and see what response you get out of it.  Usually it ranges from normal to pain which may or may not last awhile.  On a rare occasion, you may not get any feeling at all which would indicate the nerve is dead and would require a root canal.  Have your dentist check or an endodontist.

[amina832]

thank you for replying so quickly . I will call the dentist on monday to see if I can get a referral  for the endodontist. is the cold test something that I can do myself with a dentist does?  I do not have any sensitivity to cold or hot drinks . I am worried if it is an infection .however if it was an infection, would pain remain consistent ? My throbbing pain comes  and goes throughout the day. When i work out the throbbing seems worse. I don't know if there is a direct relationship...?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

You could probably do two things.  You can ask your dentist for a second opinion on the matter with a referral to an endodontist (root canal specialist) or you can wait for your new crowns to be placed and see if that'll resolve the issue.  Sometimes the temporaries can irritate the gums and cause a problem.  I am worried about the pulp though because of the deep cavities. A cold test would probably indicate whether or not a root canal is necessary.