Will My Crown Feel Different?

What You'll Learn

Your mouth is remarkably sensitive to even tiny changes. A new crown adds a small amount of material to a tooth that may have been significantly reduced or damaged before treatment. Your tongue and bite will immediately notice the new shape, even if the crown is perfectly made. The tooth and surrounding tissues also need time to settle after the preparation and cementation process. Some patients describe the crown as feeling 'high' or 'thick' at first — this is very common and usually resolves quickly.

Mild sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures is common for the first few days to weeks. Some pressure sensitivity when biting is also normal as the tooth adjusts. A slight awareness of the crown when you bite or chew — a feeling that it is 'there' — is expected and typically fades as your brain adapts to the new tooth shape. Mild gum tenderness around the crown margin is normal for a few days after placement.

Contact your dentist if: your bite feels noticeably off after the first few days (one side hitting before the other, or the crowned tooth hitting harder than the rest); sensitivity to temperature is severe or worsening rather than improving; you have sharp pain when biting; or you notice the crown feels loose. These are signs that a bite adjustment or further evaluation may be needed. A bite that is even slightly too high puts extra stress on the crown and the underlying tooth.

A bite adjustment is a quick, painless procedure. Your dentist will have you bite on special marking paper that shows exactly where the crown is making contact. They then use a small polishing instrument to remove a tiny amount of material from the high spot. Most adjustments take less than 10 minutes and require no anesthesia. Many patients need one small adjustment after a new crown — it is a routine part of the process, not a sign that anything went wrong.