Last October, my dentist placed crowns on my left first and second molar tooth. One of the crowns fell off, so my dentist cemented 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. Now, it feels weird when I chew on that side of my mouth. Am I going to need new crowns? Thank you. Jenn
Jenn,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Can Dentist’s Grinding on Your Crowns Ruin Them?
Dentists commonly adjust a new crown to your bite by grinding or filing it down. However, the dentist must check your bite in intervals to ensure that not too much—or too little—of the crown is adjusted. These are small adjustments. 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—Permanent crowns 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 re-cementing. Something went wrong, but your dentist must explain why she adjusted.
- Broken crown – A crown should not break from conservative bonding.
- Affecting your bite—The adjustments affect your bite, which can cause multiple issues that lead to TMJ symptoms.
Your dentist should compensate you. We recommend scheduling a second opinion appointment with a cosmetic dentist trained in occlusion and bite.
Dr. Steven Brooksher, a Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.
