I learned this from the dental assistant yesterday.
Got my cleaning about 1 month ago and my teeth require a little work. 1 filling and two crowns, all in a row.
I went in yesterday for the first of two sessions. They were going to do the filling and get the other two teeth ready for crowns.
In the process of grinding down my teeth, the dentist apparently "nicked" my tongue. My tongue and mouth were totally numb, so I felt nothing.
Three hours later I went home. Mouth and jaw very sore. I started to get feeling back in my tongue and started touching the crowns. One popped off!
I decided to look in the mirror and see what the dentist did. My tongue looked like ground beef on the right side. As the novacain wore off I really felt it.
I went back to the dentist office and they reglued the temporary crown on.
My tongue was so sore I could not speak last night.
This morning it feels better, however, it looks like I tried to cut it off.
I also learned an old dental trick...when the dentist fits the crown he/she pushes down on your gums go the crown will go below the gum line. OUCH!!!! I had good gums...now they are also sore and red. They do NOT heal as quickly as the tongue.
Now I remember why I hate going to the dentist....even a nice one who gives lots of pain relief.