Pain and Sensitivity After a Zirconia Crown

For a few days after a zirconia crown is cemented, mild sensitivity to cold and heat and some tenderness in the gum are normal. This usually passes within a few days, at most 1-2 weeks. Pain when biting, throbbing that starts on its own at night, or pain lasting more than two weeks is not normal and needs to be checked. The most common cause is a crown that sits "high" in the bite, which is fixed with a quick adjustment.

Complaints Considered Normal

Sensitivity to cold and heat: Because the tooth surface is reduced during preparation, live teeth may be sensitive for a few days.
Gum tenderness: The gum margin can be affected during preparation and impressions. It heals within a few days.
Getting used to it: A new crown can feel different to the tongue and when biting in the first days. You get used to it within a few days.

Why Does a Zirconia Crown Hurt?

A high bite: If the crown touches the opposing tooth before the other teeth do, biting and chewing hurt. The dentist checks the bite and adjusts the crown in a short time.
Nerve (pulp) reaction: In live teeth, if preparation came close to the nerve, the nerve may become inflamed. Long-lasting sensitivity to heat and pain that starts on its own at night are signs of this. Root canal treatment may then be needed.
Cement left under the gum: Causes swelling, bleeding and tenderness in the gum. It settles once removed.
Poorly fitting margins: If the edge of the crown does not fit the tooth exactly, gum inflammation and later decay can develop.
Clenching and grinding: This overloads crowned teeth and can cause jaw and tooth pain in the morning. A night guard reduces this load. See our night guard article for details.

When Does the Pain Go Away?

Normal sensitivity usually eases within a few days and is completely gone in 1-2 weeks. During this time, avoiding very cold and very hot food, using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and, if needed, taking the painkiller your dentist recommends is enough.

See your dentist if:

Pain when biting is still there after a few days, or the crown feels "high",
You have throbbing pain that starts on its own at night,
There is swelling or discharge in the gum,
Sensitivity is not decreasing, or is getting worse, within two weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days does it take to make a zirconia crown?

After the teeth are prepared and impressions are taken, the crowns are made in a dental laboratory. Depending on the number of teeth and the case, the process usually takes 1-2 weeks and a few visits. During this time the teeth are protected with temporary crowns.

Does zirconia turn yellow?

Zirconia does not stain and does not change colour. When a crown seems to have "darkened" over the years, it is usually because gum recession has exposed the root of the tooth at the edge of the crown. Gum health is therefore important for how a crown looks too.

Will a zirconia crown on a root-treated tooth hurt?

A root-treated tooth has no nerve, so hot and cold sensitivity is not expected. If there is pain when biting, the bite or the tissues around the tooth should be checked.

If your complaint after a crown does not go away, see your dentist for a check-up. For information on the treatment see our zirconia crown page, and for fees in the TDB tariff our zirconia crown fees article. To book an examination at our clinic in Güvenevler, Çankaya, call +90 540 640 6006.

This article is for general information only. Diagnosis and treatment decisions are made by your dentist after an examination.