Ask a doctor

Can a Crown Become Loose? If So, Would It Need to Be Removed and Re-cemented? Would I Need a Root Canal?

My crown is about a year old. It started becoming sensitive to cold and hot recently. It's more sensitive to cold. In fact, putting a hot towel on my jaw seems to help. But eating hot food directly does cause some pain (not as much as cold). When I put my tongue over it in the back, it sort of feels unstable or loose. I'm afraid to go back to my dentist since he's the one who did it in the first place. I did have brief sharp pain a couple months ago when I got work done on tooth next to it.

Doctor Answers 2

Loose crown

September 18th, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

If you had work done on the tooth next to it and you experienced some discomfort after that you need to determine if it is the crown or the adjacent tooth that is giving you those symptoms, I would advice you to go back to the dentist that prepped the crown so he can assess the condition of it and determine which is the source of your discomfort, it is very uncommon for a crown to move, so before it becomes a bigger problem have it checked, most professionals would take into consideration that it is a recent restoration and will take that into consideration.

Joaquin Berron, DDS


Mexico Dentist

September 18th, 2013

Loose crown

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

If you had work done on the tooth next to it and you experienced some discomfort after that you need to determine if it is the crown or the adjacent tooth that is giving you those symptoms, I would advice you to go back to the dentist that prepped the crown so he can assess the condition of it and determine which is the source of your discomfort, it is very uncommon for a crown to move, so before it becomes a bigger problem have it checked, most professionals would take into consideration that it is a recent restoration and will take that into consideration.


Mexico Dentist

Loose Crown

September 18th, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

It sounds as if the symptoms you are having suggests that the nerve is going bad. In that case a root canal would be indicated.  It is possible that the crown has lost cement and is loose. This could cause sensitivity.  You should see your dentist again.  At this point I don't think he or she has done anything wrong. 

Peter Rinaldi, DMD
September 18th, 2013

Loose Crown

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

It sounds as if the symptoms you are having suggests that the nerve is going bad. In that case a root canal would be indicated.  It is possible that the crown has lost cement and is loose. This could cause sensitivity.  You should see your dentist again.  At this point I don't think he or she has done anything wrong. 

Peter Rinaldi, DMD
*Treatment results may vary

Related content

View all Dental Crown reviews

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.