Hi,

I recently had my teeth prepared for several temporary crowns and several porcelain veneers placed on my lower teeth. I am looking forward to when my porcelain crowns come in, but ever since my appointment, my jaw has been aching. I cannot get through the day without taking over the counter pain killers, and wish I had something stronger. It usually hurts worse later in the day, and I need to take something to ease the pain before bedtime.

It’s been several days since my appointment, but my jaw pain hasn’t let up. Is this normal? Do I need to go back to my dentist? I really hope it stops soon.

Mayumi, from Gadsden, AL

 

Hi Mayumi,

There usually is residual pain after long appointments, as your mouth has been through a lot. You will likely have pain or discomfort for one or two weeks after the surgery. Preparing that many teeth for crowns and veneers requires the mouth to be open for much longer than you’re used to.

To make yourself more comfortable, you can call your dentist and ask if there is anything else you can do. The pain is likely temporary, so it should not be TMJ or TMD. Over the counter pain killers are OK to take, and try to rest your jaw as much as possible. You can also use heat from warm towels to help your jaw relax.

This blog post is brought to you by San Antonio TMJ dentist, Gilberto Tostado, of 5 Star Dental Group.