Painful Crown

[birdy44]

I had a 2 teeth crowned earlier this year but now when I eat something really sweet (eg honey or chocolate...and I know if I didn't eat this I wouldn't need the crowns!) i get a shooting pain up into one of the teeth. Its also sensitive when I brush it.
I thought the crown should be totally sense-less? Any ideas why it hurts......I'm too scared to go back!!

[MrXLA]

Unless purely for improvement in aesthetics a tooth would be crowned due to extensive breakdown either due to trauma or more commonly tooth decay. However as you can appreciate the remaining tooth needs to be prepared/cut down in order to provide a margin/enough space for the crown. It is estimated that in living teeth that are crowned around 1 in 3 will at some point become non-vital/die as a result of being crowned. Its possible that you are suffering from something known as pulpitis and that the tooth is dying off.
If this is the case the tooth will require root canal treatment to prevent further pain from infection. If you have any further questions please ask.

[birdy44]

Thanks so much - v informative.

I'm guessing the crown has to come off, what remains of the tooth extracted, then root canal and then a new crown/replacement tooth made? Shall I get the bank loan now??

[chicklin]

Don't think they extract the tooth - they just drill it level with the gum then do a root canal (drill out the nerves - doesn't hurt with anaesthetic) and fix a crown on to the top. The crown has a post in it which goes down into the drilled out root canal and is fixed into place with cement. (The dental kind)