I had a zirconia crown put on in 2019. Since then, I have had a dry sticky mouth and my throat burns. I’ve since seen several ENT doctors. They’ve ruled out acid reflux and mouthwash. The final ENT said it was burning mouth syndrome. All of them insist that there are no known zirconia allergies. I’ll be honest and say that I do not enjoy dentists under the best of circumstances, but the last appointment I had has almost sworn me off of them. I had to have a lot of drilling for this crown, which meant a lot of water and I kept feeling like I was drowning. We had to stop multiple times and I really struggled. How can I get the help I need?
Millie
Dear Millie,
Let me address the allergy issue first. While there are currently no known zirconia allergies, that does not mean there never will be. It’s too broad a statement when dentists imply no one is allergic to something. The human body is complex and each one is unique. While you could get tested for a zirconia allergy, I actually think the last ENT you saw was on the right track with Burning Mouth Syndrome.
While there has been no officially attributed cause, many dentists have seen a clear connection between traumatic dental experiences, dental anxiety, and the symptoms of Burning Mouth Syndrome. You check off all the boxes on each of these. The best way to deal with this is to tackle the anxiety.
My recommendation is that you find a sedation dentist. That is simply a dentist who offers different types of relaxation medication for use during your procedure. At first, I am going to recommend you see someone who offers oral conscious sedation. I think your level of anxiety warrants that. Then, you move onto a milder form of sedation for normal checkups, known as nitrous oxide.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.