Salty Taste/Severely Chapped lips

[klg77]

I have had a horrible salt taste and chapped peeling lips for almost 2 yrs now.  I have a gold crown and wondered if that could cause something like this.  I have been told I have severe post nasal drip but medication doesn't stop taste.  I have consulted with Gen. Practice, ENT, Gastro, Dentist, Derma(for lips) and nothing.  If I eat something sweet it makes if even more salty.   Have had blood work done to test for B12, zinc, sugar all normal.  Going crazy.

Crown had to be removed and replaced. When temp was on, I didn't have taste.  Can't get Dentist to agree it could be the problem.  

[klg77]

Went back to my wonderful Dentist yesterday.  He checked to make sure crown was secure and no gaps.  Everything good.  He also checked to make sure there was enamel between my crown and the tooth in front of it as there is a small old filling in there to check for the galvanic response we wer talking about.  There is enamel.  Doesn't want to take out crown, feels it is the best choice.  He is going to talk to the Periodonist and also their pathologists to see if they have any ideas.  Will finish up with the steroids (haven't seen any difference) and run the course as he stated there were nerves that ran down both sides of my tongue and also the top and he thought the ENT probably looking for a taste disorder.  Ask about menopause being  a possible cause? Who knows, just drives me nuts!  

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Hm, I believe a galvanic reaction is usually more of a shock when the metals touch but I suppose its possible too.  If that's the case, you may want to replace the metal filling with a white filling.  That's another possibility too.

[klg77]

Went to ENT who put me on a round of steriods for 6 days and then said I need a scan of my brain to see if I have a TUMOR.  I have looked for other things like allergies to glue etc and came up with Electrolytic reaction or Galvanic Response.  

I have an old filling next to the crown.  I don't know if the two metals touch and if they are, it is a possiblility that it could be causing a reaction.
Calling Dentist today.  So frustrated!

Thank you for your help!  

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

I don't know for sure but it sounds from what you're telling me that the crown is causing it.  I would still consider replacing the crown with a non-metal crown.

[klg77]

Thanks, I am going to see the ENT on Friday.  Maybe she will have some answers.  Talked to Dentist's office yesterday and they gave me an irrigation syringe and told me to get mouthwash with peroxide in it.  Tried that and it did not help.  Let's see what ENT has to say and then if nothing is resolved, it's back to the Dentist's office.  This is driving me crazy!

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Weird.  If the temp fixed the problem and the gold crown makes the problem, I would say that it seems to point to the crown.  Try replacing the gold crown for an all porcelain crown with no metal and see how it goes.

[klg77]

My dentist says it is not the crown.  When I brush my teeth, I start tasting the salt.  There seems to be a lip on the back side of the crown (it is my last tooth on the left side) that gets toothpaste caught in it and I have to make sure that it is rinsed throughly.   They say that everything is in place properly but it doesn't feel right.  The reason I keep going back to the crown is that the salt taste starts and stays on the left and the roof of my mouth.  I am going crazy with this stuff!  Thanks for talking with me about this.  I don't know whether to go back to Dentist or go to ENT...

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

That is weird.  Have you been tested for an allergy to the crown?  I don't believe I've met a patient with a gold allergy, some metal allergies though such as nickel.  Are you replacing the crown with a non-metal based crown?