Crown problem

[larandsandy]

Hi, I had my first crown installed in Dec. of 05, and have had problems ever since.  First, I had severe vertigo and weakness that lasted a month, and since I still cannot chew on the crown and hot and cold stuff hurts.  Also, when I floss around it, it also hurts.  It starts in the tooth and spreads to my ear and eye on that side of my face.  I have to take advil every four hours for a day or two until it settles back down.  I think I probably need a root canal but I am not sure what to do.  I don't want to go back to the dentist that did the crown and have a bad experience with the root canal.  What do you suggest?  Is this typical?  Thanks for your reply.

[tobor]

I went to this dentist in 2006 to have a new upper denture amd new lower crowns (7) made and a new precision partial. He took ONE x-ray and proceeded to remove my old crowns, which I had worn for 20 years. He seated (supposedly)the seven crowns all on a splint, and made a new partial with the male part on the splint, which constantly irritated my tongue when I had the partial out of my mouth. Then he made a full upper denture, which was all wrong for my mouth, and then made another one, also not fitted right or looking right.  He then sent me 40 miles away to see his lab technician. I saw the technician about five times and each time he couldn't get the upper right. Meanwhile, the dentist did laser work on my lower gums.  He never did make the upper and after much discussion, he refunded me $1,800 and I went to another dentist.  He charged me $13,800 for this work, minus the $1,800. I had paid him in full, some on a credit card, the rest cash.  I have no dental insurance. The new dentist surveyed my mouth and the work (I was wearing a 20 year old upper denture) and he said the crowns wern't seated properly and he could get his instrument under two of the crowns. He proceeded to make me a full upper denture and it was perfect, and I am wearing it now, I use no adhesive.   I have had two cleanings with this dentist and last week I went to him,with pain in my lower two front teeth.  Now, I have paid this dentist $11,800, had the old crowns taken off and had the two front teeth pulled and a temporary put on. I am waiting for my gums to heal and then he will do the rest of the work. I called the old dentist for my records and he sent me one small x-ray and 8 pages of handwritten notes and said they were his records.  He finally got the name of my new dentist and he called him 15 times.  He called me and told me I should have come to him with the problem.  What can I do now?  Am I out $11,800?????

[tobor]

I went to this dentist in 2006 to have a new upper denture amd new lower crowns (7) made and a new precision partial. He took ONE x-ray and proceeded to remove my old crowns, which I had worn for 20 years. He seated (supposedly)the seven crowns all on a splint, and made a new partial with the male part on the splint, which constantly irritated my tongue when I had the partial out of my mouth. Then he made a full upper denture, which was all wrong for my mouth, and then made another one, also not fitted right or looking right.  He then sent me 40 miles away to see his lab technician. I saw the technician about five times and each time he couldn't get the upper right. Meanwhile, the dentist did laser work on my lower gums.  He never did make the upper and after much discussion, he refunded me $1,800 and I went to another dentist.  He charged me $13,800 for this work, minus the $1,800. I had paid him in full, some on a credit card, the rest cash.  I have no dental insurance. The new dentist surveyed my mouth and the work (I was wearing a 20 year old upper denture) and he said the crowns wern't seated properly and he could get his instrument under two of the crowns. He proceeded to make me a full upper denture and it was perfect, and I am wearing it now, I use no adhesive.   I have had two cleanings with this dentist and last week I went to him,with pain in my lower two front teeth.  Now, I have paid this dentist $11,800, had the old crowns taken off and had the two front teeth pulled and a temporary put on. I am waiting for my gums to heal and then he will do the rest of the work. I called the old dentist for my records and he sent me one small x-ray and 8 pages of handwritten notes and said they were his records.  He finally got the name of my new dentist and he called him 15 times.  He called me and told me I should have come to him with the problem.  What can I do now?  Am I out $11,800?????

[SlowDown]

Hi, Nice to have a plce like this. My question is when you have to replace a crown do they have to grind the tooth further down each time. How much if they do? I ask my new dentist and he always avoids answers. Thanks, Dennis

[doxsons4us2]

I have had a gold and porcelain crown side by side for about   15-20 years, and never had any problems.  I do think that of my many crowns, the ones done in gold are far superior, and my first ones that I had done on my back lower molars are still great, and they were done 31 years ago!!

[Stlucia]

I have a gold crown put on a tooth when I was 12. About one month ago I go to the dentist for a check up and the dentist tells me I need to have that crown replace because it doesn't cover the whole tooth and food has started to get trap under it. I agree and through this process I have had two different temp. crowns and I experince no pain but know that I have the perm crown I have pain when I eat hard foods and floss. My dentist has filed the crown down as far as it can go and I still have pain. Last week when I went to the DDS he said if the pain doesn't go away I may need a root canal. I said no way because I had have no pain until this perm crown was put on plus the dental assistant check my root on that tooth and said it was fine. I think the crown is not fitted properly. Can you asssit me with why I have pain. The pern crown is porcelain with metal underneath.

Should I get a second opinion?
Is it true that you can't have a gold crown on one tooth and a  crown porcelain on another. By the way these two crown would touch when you chew.

[larandsandy]

Thanks to you all.  I would have gone in earlier, but as I stated I had severe vertigo for the first month and then I was told that it would maybe settle down, and then I was just afraid to go back in because I didn't want another month of the vertigo.  I will get another opinion as stated, and it is intermittent.  As long as I don't use that side of my mouth to chew and don't aggrevate it at all by flossing it, it does seem ok except for the hot and cold.  But, I agree, that it does need to get another check.  It sures makes me not want another crown.  Ugh.

[siren of the sea]

there are several factors that could cause this. the tooth could be infected-but the coming and going is unsual. it could be cracked. does it ache when you lay down? does the pain to temp last for seconds or min/hours? if it an upper tooth do you have sinus problems? the best and only bet to figuring this out is seeing a dentist. id go back to the one that put the crown on. honestly you should have gone back a long time ago. if after 7 months you have had no relief then the possiblity of needed more treatment is costly and you dont want to lose your tooth.

[boog72]

I'm not a dental professional but just recently had a similar problem. Sounds to me like there is an infection. I had to have a re-treatment done on an exisiting crown by an endodontics. They have me on my second round of antibiotics. It's been a very painful experience. From what they tell me the infection can get worse and cause alot of trouble if not treated. I would call an endodontics or find a new dentist. I did the same thing. I did not feel very good about the first crown that was done so I switched dentists. hope this helps.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

I think you are right in getting another opinion. This is not the typical scenario when a crown is placed. It may be that the crown is ill fitting and it doesn't need RCT. Go to another dentist.