If you’re worried about discomfort during a dental crown treatment, don’t worry. Many patients have either seen depictions of agonizing dental procedures in media or have had bad experiences in the past. Others simply have more sensitive teeth and require some extra care! Whatever the case may be, there’s no shame in asking the question “will the procedure be painful?”
Your dentist can go into more detail with you during a consultation, but in the meantime, you can find reassurance in these three reasons why getting a crown doesn’t hurt!
1. General Anesthesia
One of the very things your dentist will do when getting ready to place your crown is administer a local anesthetic to the treatment area. This isn’t the kind of anesthesia that will “knock you out,” but it will numb your surrounding oral tissue. Nowadays general anesthesia is quite effective, and many patients find that it’s enough to keep them comfortable and relaxed while their dentist works.
2. Sedation Dentistry
Still feeling anxious? That’s understandable and is actually fairly common. While some patients do respond well to general anesthesia, others have sensitivities, phobias, medical conditions, or mental illnesses that require special care.
Fortunately, the vast majority of modern dentists are aware of these types of things and offer sedation dentistry as accommodation. Popular methods like laughing gas and oral conscious sedation still won’t “knock you out,” but they’ll dull your senses and provide a sense of calm. Adult and pediatric patients alike really appreciate this option!
3. The Dental Crown Process
Dental treatments just aren’t what they used to be – in a good way! The agonizing depictions of dental work you might see in older movies hasn’t really been a reality since the mid-1800’s. The process of getting a dental crown is a good example! Your dentist may have to reshape your tooth a little bit so that your crown will fit securely, but this is done carefully, gently, and with a local anesthetic. After that, it’s simply a matter of adhering the restoration to your tooth with oral-safe dental cement. Overall, it’s pretty minimal!
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
There’s a lot of truth to this old-fashioned saying. At the end of the day, a timely placed dental crown is meant to save you from pain and complications in the future. A damaged tooth is vulnerable to harmful bacteria, infection, and further injury. Without a crown to protect it, it will likely become more and more sensitive.
Dental crown treatments don’t usually cause significant discomfort, but if you’re worried about pain, talk to your dentist. They’ll help make sure you’re comfortable and relaxed when it’s time to place your restoration!
About the Practice
At the Family Dental Center of East Texas, we can place dental crowns comfortably for patients of all ages. You can rest assured that our office keeps up with modern dental technology, and that we’ll provide any necessary anesthesia. We also offer sedation dentistry for patients with special needs, so don’t hesitate to let our team know if you’re interested in this calming option! To contact our office, call