Crowned tooth - infection? Pls help!

[Twohootsandapumpkin]

An odd subject I know but I have a crowned tooth (molar) which I've had about 6 years. It is a gold crown (NHS) and I don't think it's ever 'fitted' properly. Not sure what it should be like but if I run my tongue over the edges there seems to be a little bit of a gap between the crown and my gum??

About a year ago I had an infection in it and had to have root canal treatment (awful!!). Over the last few days my gum (and the underside of my tongue) have become v sore around that crown. However when I bite down on it I don't feel any pain - the pain is more when I move my tongue about IYSWIM. I've been gargling with Corsodyl and also salt water for the last 24 hours. I had earache and under my chin in that area were also v painful yesterday but not as bad today. Do you think it is the crown/tooth or possibly under my tongue causing the pain - I can't decide.

I KNOW you are going to say see my Dentist but it's v difficult to get emergency NHS appts (always given to his private patients), and it's such a long drive (40 mins each way) and I have no one to look after DD so end up having to take her and it's just a nightmare! (upstairs so no way to get pushchair up), Dentist is absolutely horrible. I never bothered about going to the dentist until I moved here now I am terrified The last root canal stuff I had done was terrifying and I had to make 4 separate journeys with my DD who was about 6 months at the time - not a nice experience really.

In the back of my mind I think it may be the tooth/crown but also the underside of my tongue feels like 'razorblades cutting into it when' I tuck it into the area so not sure?

I'm a bit pathetic really but I just hate this dentist and it's just not possible to change as there are no NHS dentists in my area at all (hence the 1.5 drive!).

Oh I do have a routine checkup in 2 weeks time, I suppose if I can bear the pain - I could wait until then??

Hi, I am a dental nurse and I would say it could be the crown, has it got rough edges on it - which could be causing your sore tongue. The gap between your crown and gum is where your gums have shrunk back which is normal but make sure you keep brushing the gum in a downward direction when you brush your teeth
Hope this helps

Oh Sidey - thanks ever so much for replying - I was about to give up hope!!

The pain is actually in the groove under the tongue IYSWIM. Next to where the crown is - i.e along the side of my tongue but underneath. Ear is still abit sort but not as bad as yesterday.

Do you think the crown could do with being replaced?

Sorry, wasn't sure from your post do you think it is an infection in the root then? Or prob an irritation around the tongue/gum? I would have thought if it was in the root it would hurt when I bite down on the crown but it doesn't?

I am soooo scared of my dentist and really can't bring myself to think about so many trips again with DD!!

If the root was infected you would probably get an absyss - a spot like thing on your gum. It sounds like the crown is irritating your gum and tongue, which also could cause a slight infection. Keep doing your salt water mouth washes everytime you have eaten something and take nurofen for inflammation. If doesn't get better in few days I would try and get to dentist

Thanks again - you are making me feel MUCH better

I didn't have an absess last time he said I had an infection - just a bit of a pain when I bit on it - but nothing like this.....

Let's hope eh? Don't think I can continue with this pain for 2 wks though so if it doesn't improve I'll have to make an appt

i've got crowns and when the gum receeds you can feel a gap as long as you keep it clean it's ok. go to the dentist. i had a root canal in a crown and it was ok

try the anti inflammatory's first - thats if you can take them - some poeple can't. See if they work for a couple of days. If you have had a proper root canal if there was a problem with the tooth you wouldn't feel it anyway - sounds like the gum is causing the problem, but you also may need a new crown

It doesn't sound like you have an abscess as you would ime, be experiencing pain most of the time and espec on biting.

It isn't unusual for there to be a minute gap inbetween the gumline & crown as it would be easier to keep clean, espec as it's a molar.

You may have bitten on something, causing it jolt and therefore causing the earache, or you may have chipped it, but that usually happens with crowns when there are metal covered in porcelain, as the porcelain can weaken and crack.

You may have got something stuck in that area and the contact movement of your tounge would deff make your gum feel sore. I wouls advise trying to floss and warm salt water mouthrinse to help healing. If this does't help you should see the dentist to prevent anything from starting up.

Thanks for all your replies Off to gargle now and then try and get some sleep - earache still there!

SEA - I too had root canal in the crown and it was awful Do think it is the dentist though that makes it sooo bad as I've never had problems before I moved to his practice .