uncomfortable crowns and gums

[sorry992]

Three months ago, I had 6 crowns placed on my top front teeth.  Since then, I've had a feeling of tightness and irritated gums between my two front teeth.  Also, my once comfortable bite is now really uncomfortable.  It feels as if I'm landing on a different molar every time I close my mouth.   My dentist tried twice to adjust the bite and find the reason for the tightness/uncomfortable feeling in the gums around the front teeth.  I went to another dentist for a second opinion.  He said the margins are good, the crowns look lovely, but that now I have an open bite because the new crowns don't make contact with my bottom teeth.  (I once heard the dentist who placed the crowns say that "we might have overcorrected" after he'd ground down the bottom teeth to fit the top crowns.)  The second-opinion dentist said that the only way to correct my bite would be to remove the crowns and place new ones.  He made an anterior bite stop composite, and while it was in place, the bite did feel a lot better.  He gave it to me to take back to the dentist who seated the crowns.  I'd appreciate any further input about my really really bad-feeling mouth.  Also, I now feel as if I need to open my mouth as wide as I can and stretch my jaw to get relief from the discomfort.

[sorry992]

The prosthodontist noted an open bite, the same as the first "second-opinion" dentist.  However, he didn't recommend removing the crowns and starting over, just that I should wear a bite guard.  In the letter he wrote to the dentist who placed the crowns, he referred to him by a nickname, so I think they're pretty good friends.  The dentist that placed the crowns has stopped responding to my pleas for help.  I have an appointment with a new dentist who's been highly recommended.  I need to get established with a dentist for general care and cleanings.  I'm hoping that she will know what to do with the sore gums and horrible bite.  I use the kind of dental wax my kids used to use when they had braces to fill in the space behind my front teeth.  It makes my bite a lot more comfortable (more like it used to be) but, naturally, it keeps falling out.  Besides marrying my first husband, having these front teeth crowned is the biggest mistake I've ever made!    

[suzyblue]

Hi. How did you get on with your dental treatment? I have had the same problem too and it has not been sorted out yet (been 2 years). Hope you have had a better response from your dentist and he has sorted it out for you.

[frustrated123]

Good luck to you too!  Look forward to hearing what happens --

[sorry992]

I have an appointment to see a prosthodontist in two weeks.  I hope he can do something.  Good luck with your problem!

[frustrated123]

Geez, I'm sorry to hear this.  I'm going thru something very similar, 6 new crowns on top front teeth finished last week, and still very uncomfortable. A feeling of great pressure, and I'm constantly aware of them. They are all porcelain, and feel very thick, and also seem to affect my speech a little bit.

I have an appt. to go back next week to see if something can be done about my really really bad-feeling mouth.

Was there any resolution for you with this?  I hope so!

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

As far as I am concerned this is an unacceptable result. I think that what ever it takes to correct the situation ie. replacing the crowns, it must be done.