New 12 unit bridge

I got a 12 unit permanent bridge put in last week, and now it's very painful to chew or even yawn. The temporary was on for 6 weeks with no pain. The permanent bridge is zirconium, and spans from #19 to #29, anchored to #20, 21, & 22 on one side, and #27, 28, & 29 on other side. There's no sensitivity to hot/cold, no pain when bite down with no food in mouth, no pain at all EXCEPT when bite down on any food, yawn, or move jaw from side to side. My dentist has adjusted the bite, and says it's not that. He then said might be pulpitis, but not the usual full array of symptoms for that. Could it be mechanical stress? As bridge too large and not flexing with mandible? Any other possibilities?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Its possible that the large span bridge is causing some problems due to its size.  How does the bite feel on the bridge?  It sounds to me based upon your pain on biting, yawning and moving your jaw that it may be the TMJ which is causing the problem rather than the bridge but since you had no problems at all with your temporary, I'm not sure why your TMJ may be having problems.  Does the bite feel the same on the temporary?  Is it shifting or forcing your jaw to be in an unnatrual position?

[balancing50]

Thanks for your response. I never had the symptoms for the 6 weeks with the temporaries. Also, never any TMJ. I was told by a Prosthodontist that a large solid bridge like that won't allow normal flexion of mandible, and that it should have been made in 3 separate units to allow for that movement. What's your opinion?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

I've heard that as well since the biting forces of the front teeth and its function is different than the bite forces of the back teeth and how it moves.  Since its one large unit, it can have some difficulty in regards to being able to work.  I don't do full mouth reconstruction like that so I'd take the prosthodontist's word for it.