I had a dental crown placed and it doesn’t feel right. It almost feels like it is hitting the opposite tooth before other things and hurts every time I bite. My dentist said it is fine and I’ll get used to it but I’m not sure I will. It’s already been several weeks. Can he make it smaller without damaging the tooth?
Jill
Dear Jill,
A poorly fitted crown can lead to TMJ problems
I love it when dentists say a patient will “get used to it”. Usually, that is dentist code for I don’t know what to do. While it is possible you will adjust to how it feels, you shouldn’t have to. How the teeth come together is important. This is the study of occlusion and there are great post-doctoral schools which teach this.
Unfortunately, some dentists feel what they got in dental school is enough. I wouldn’t trust them to do a full-mouth reconstruction. As long as they stick to single crowns it usually works out okay. Though, as you are experiencing, that isn’t always the case.
When a dental crown is done and doesn’t feel right, it is recommended adjustments are made. If it throws off your bite, it could lead to TMJ Disorder. Your dentist should have you bite down on some bite registration paper. This shows the dentist where your bite is coming together prematurely. Then they can grind down that area to the proper height. That shouldn’t damage the tooth because a properly prepared tooth leaves plenty of room for the crown.
Where to Go from Here
If you are otherwise happy with your dentist, then I’d just ask him to adjust the crown until it is comfortable. Though, it sounds like he may not know how. In that case, you’ll need to go elsewhere to have it done.
If you don’t like your dentist that much, this is a good opportunity for you to find another one. This time, look for one who invests time in post-doctoral training and keeps up with his field a bit better.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.