In January, my dentist placed same-day crowns on my left first and second molar tooth. One of the crowns fell off, so my dentist cemented it on and ground it down to correct the bite. Within two weeks the back side of the crown (closest to my tongue) broke. I think she was too aggressive with that grinding tool. And now I feel a weird sensation when I chew on that side of my mouth. Am I going to need new crowns? If so, it defeats the purpose of getting same-day crowns. Now, I will need another office visit! Thank you. LJ from Seattle
LJ,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Should a Dentist Grind on Your Crowns?
Dentists commonly adjust a new crown to your bite by grinding or filing it down. But the dentist must check your bite in intervals to ensure that not too much—or too little—of the crown is adjusted. But these are small adjustments. And your dentist will shape and smooth the crown to prevent it from feeling rough.
But we are concerned about several aspects of your experience.
- Loose crowns – A permanent crown should not loosen or fall off. Your dentist might have aggressively prepared your tooth or bonded the crown incorrectly.
- Adjusting your bite – A dentist should adjust your bite and crown when placing it. It is not common to adjust the crown after recementing it. Something went wrong in the process. But your dentist must explain why she made the adjustment.
- Broken crown – A crown should not break from conservative bonding. Dr. Reddy would need to examine your crown, but it seems that it is now dangerously thin.
- Affecting your bite – The adjustments are affecting your bite, which can cause multiple issues that lead to TMJ symptoms.
Your dentist should compensate you. And we recommend that you schedule a second-opinion appointment with a cosmetic dentist trained in occlusion and bite.
Dr. Rekha Reddy, a Dallas, Texas dentist, sponsors this post.
