Why do new crowns make my teeth sensitive and burn my gums?

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The whole process of getting crowns from my dentist has been a nightmare. They are burning my gums now, and my teeth are sensitive. I’m blaming myself a bit because the temporary crowns were a mess, too. They felt like they were leaking, and my teeth hurt beneath them. I told my dentist that I was worried about infection, so he prescribed an antibiotic. He did not check my teeth or anything–just gave me a prescription. When I got my six new crowns, my dentist filed and re-filed my teeth because my bite was off. I felt fluid rushing beneath the crowns whenever I drank anything, so my dentist sent the crowns back, and I wore temporaries. The temporaries felt better than the crowns and the first set of temporaries. Now I’ve been wearing my new crowns for two weeks, and my teeth are sensitive, and my gums are burning. Fortunately, my dentist used temporary cement. But something is not right with the crowns. But as I said, this has been a nightmare from day one. What should I do to prevent this situation from getting worse? I had a little anxiety before this process began. But I have hyperventilated three times at the dental office recently. Can I switch dentists in the middle of treatment, or is it too late? – Marquita from GA

Marquita,

Dr. Brooksher would need to examine your teeth, gums, and new crowns for an accurate diagnosis. But we can be helpful. Please do not allow your dentist to bond your crowns to your teeth permanently.

New Dental Crowns and Burning Gums

If your gums are burning and teeth are sensitive after new dental crowns, ask your dentist for the exact composition of the crowns. When a lab makes crowns, they send a dental alloy certificate listing all materials in the crown. And if your crowns are porcelain-fused-to-metal, you might have a metal allergy or sensitivity. It would explain why your gums are burning, and your teeth are sensitive.

Challenges of Placing Dental Crowns on Front Teeth

Face of a woman relaxed during dental treatment for information on sedation dentistry from Dr. Brooksher of Baton Rouge

Sedation will relieve your anxiety while a cosmetic dentist restores your teeth

When a dentist places a crown on your front teeth, they must ensure your bite is adjusted. But your dentist placed six crowns, which increases the challenge of bite adjustment. A dentist with advanced training in occlusion and bite can adjust your bite accurately without extensively filing your teeth down to stumps.

And when you suspected that you might have a tooth infection, your dentist prescribed antibiotics instead of identifying the cause of your discomfort.

Can You Switch Dentists in the Middle of Treatment?

Yes, you can switch dentists in the middle of getting new crowns. First, look for a dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training—preferably accredited—to examine your teeth. The dentist can explain sedation options to prevent anxiety from overwhelming you. Then, the dentist will determine if your crowns have a metal foundation or if something else is causing tooth sensitivity and burning gums. Your new crowns should feel so comfortable that you don’t notice them at all.

Steven Brooksher, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post. Read why so many of his patients think he is among the best dentists in Baton Rouge.

Will I need general anesthesia for wisdom tooth extraction?

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I am 44 years old and have three impacted wisdom teeth. One tooth is under the bone. I am wondering if general anesthesia is necessary or if sedation is enough. I’ve never had general anesthesia, and I prefer not to get it. Thanks. Wade from AR

 

Wade,

Thank you for your inquiry. Although we do not have your case details, most wisdom tooth extractions do not require general anesthesia. Other levels of sedation work well with extractions without making you unconscious, like general anesthesia.

Moderate Sedation for Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Four diagrams of impacted wisdom teeth that require sedation dentistryIntravenous, moderate sedation is known as twilight sedation. Your state will be between awake and asleep. And you will drift in and out of consciousness. Most patients do not remember anything about the procedure except feeling sleepy and relaxed. Moderate sedation offers deeper relaxation than sedation with nitrous oxide, which gives you a sense of well-being while you are fully awake.

Deep Sedation for Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Deep sedation is drug-induced, depresses consciousness, and prevents you from awakening easily.

General Anesthesia for Wisdom Teeth Extraction

General anesthesia makes you completely unconscious. Risks increase with general anesthesia, too.

What Makes Some Wisdom Teeth Extractions More Difficult?

As we age, several factors can make wisdom teeth extractions more difficult. And your dentist will recommend sedation based on your sensitivity and condition of your teeth.

  • Bone – The older the bone is, the less pliable it becomes.
  • Cementum – Calcified bone-like tissue at the tooth roots accumulates. Although cementum and can make extractions more challenging, an oral surgeon or a dentist with experience in wisdom teeth extractions will be successful.
  • Position – Impacted wisdom teeth may grow sideways or lean against other teeth. A skilled dentist or oral surgeon can remove them without harming nearby teeth.

Sedation Second Opinion

If you need a tooth extraction, but your dentist or oral surgeon recommends general anesthesia, ask why. Underlying factors might be influencing the recommendation. If not, you can get a second opinion from another sedation dentist or oral surgeon to discuss your options.

 

Dr. Steven Brooksher of Baton Rouge, LA, sponsors this post.

My dentist can’t match my crown to my veneers

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I love my dentist, but she can’t seem to get my crown to match my veneers. The crown is whiter than the veneers. Is this a challenging job that I should ask another dentist to complete, or should I let her keep trying? My dentist must sedate me every time she tries to get this right. And I am getting embarrassed because I can’t take a minor procedure without sedation. I just want this to be over. Thank you. Vivian

 

Vivian,

Many family dentists find it a challenge to match crowns and veneers. Some even have trouble matching crown color to natural teeth.

Porcelain is translucent like tooth enamel, so it looks natural. But porcelain crowns are several times thicker than porcelain veneers. If your teeth are dark, the color will show through more on porcelain veneers than with your crown.

A skilled cosmetic dentist and ceramist can achieve a match with the porcelain or by applying opaque to your teeth before sending your case to the lab.

Adding opaquers to porcelain

If your crown is translucent, your veneers must be opaqued to appear equally translucent. This technique requires skill and good communication between your dentist and the laboratory. Your dentist must take photos of your prepared teeth or record details about their color for the lab to produce accurate results. Dental laboratories that specialize in aesthetics can do this well.

Adding opaquers to your tooth

Your dentist can apply opaquers to your tooth and achieve a color match with these steps:

  • Shave the dark teeth a little
  • Apply an opaque layer of composite on each tooth
  • Create a translucent effect with the porcelain
Face of a woman relaxed during dental treatment for information on sedation dentistry from Dr. Brooksher of Baton Rouge

Sedation can decrease your time in the dental chair or help your dentist accomplish more work

The composite and porcelain veneer luting cement will bond chemically for a strong, natural-looking result.

We understand your concerns about anxiety and the need for sedation. But if you cannot relax during the procedure, it can interfere with the cosmetic dentist’s work and lengthen your time in the dental chair. Getting a second opinion from a dentist with post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training is to your advantage. It can minimize the treatment time needed to match your crown and veneers.

Steven Brooksher, DDS, is a cosmetic dentist in Baton Rouge, LA. Read about his credentials and visit his smile gallery.

 

Tooth Cracked Below the Gumline? How to Know If You Need a Second Opinion

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Trauma or injury to a tooth can lead to an extraction—or not. But don’t let anxiety about the appointment overwhelm you. Your dentist likely offers sedation to help you have a relaxing, painless experience. If not, find a dentist who offers it.

A recommendation to extract—or save—your tooth, can depend on the extent of the damage and a dentist’s skill and experience. How do you know whether to agree to extraction or get a second opinion?

Save or Extract?

Save

If the crack in a tooth extends into the pulp, your dentist can save it with root canal treatment.

Extract

If a vertical crack extends below the gumline, your dentist will likely need to extract it.

 

Why Is Extraction Needed?

  • A deep vertical crack below the gumline is likely to spread in the space between the tooth roots.
  • Eventually, the tooth will split.
  • Performing a root canal is often useless.

Consult with a specialist (endodontist) if your dentist is recommending root canal treatment.

Is Doing Nothing an Option If It Doesn’t Hurt?

Photo of woman sitting back in a dental chair with her eyes closed; for information on Baton Rouge sedation dentistry during tooth extraction.

Sedation dentistry helps you relax during procedures

You might think that if you don’t feel pain—or if you’re managing the pain with ibuprofen—nothing needs to be done to the tooth. Why do you need to take action?

  • Extensive damage to the tooth allows bacteria inside.
  • Bacteria spreads and creates an infection that, if left untreated, will affect the gum tissue and jawbone.
  • Eventually, the infection will spread to other parts of your body with the potential of becoming life-threatening.
  • Before you receive any treatment, you can receive sedation dentistry to help you relax.

In fact, your dentist will likely offer sedation. Your dentist or specialist will numb the area around your tooth to prevent you from feeling the injection. The extraction will be painless.

What About Your Smile?

Depending on the location of the missing tooth, it will detract from your smile. You can receive a dental implant to replace the missing tooth. It’s the most effective and natural-looking way to replace a missing tooth.

Before your dentist places an implant in your jawbone, you can receive nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation for a relaxing, pain-free experience. You’ll wear a temporary dental crown during a three-to-four-month healing period. Afterward, your dentist will attach a permanent crown to the implant. Your crown will match your surrounding teeth.

Regardless of what dental treatment you need, sedation will help you receive it and protect your oral health. If your tooth has cracked or split, call your dentist right away.

Steven Brooksher, DDS of Dentistry by Brooksher in Baton Rouge, LA sponsors this post.

3 Reasons Your Gums Won’t Get Numb at the Dentist and 3 Ways Sedation Can Help

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“My dentist can’t get me numb.” That’s a common concern that many people have about their next dental appointment. And delayed, rescheduled, or cancelled appointments follow. If you have a history of difficult dental appointments during which local anesthetic just didn’t work, you might benefit from knowing some possible causes. And you might be surprised to know why sedation dentistry can make a difference.

3 Reasons Your Dentist May Have Trouble Numbing Your Gums

Anxiety

Adrenaline flow increases with anxiety. It can overwhelm your nervous system and prevent local anesthetic from working at all.

Dentist’s Error

If the local anesthetic is mistakenly placed in the wrong location, it can make it seem as if your gums aren’t getting numb at all. If your dentist proceeds with treatment, the sensitivity or pain can make it feel as if no area is numb at all.

Genetic Factors

Genetics can cause a variety of conditions make it difficult to numb your gum tissue including:

  • Resistance to dental anesthetic in your peripheral nervous system
  • Abnormal location of your tooth nerves that make it difficult to precisely inject anesthetic
  • High resistance to anesthetics and low pain tolerance

Sedation Dentistry Can Help

  • Photo of a young woman relaxing in a hammock that is tied to palm trees on the beach; for information on Baton Rouge sedation dentistry from Dentistry by Brooksher.
    Sedation dentistry creates relaxing experiences

Sedation allows your dentist to accomplish more dental work than usual. Fewer interruptions and your prolonged comfort will maximize the productivity of your dental appointment. And sedation can be used whenever you need it—whether it’s for dental cleaning and exam, a new crown, or a dental implant.

  • Relaxation – Sedation dentistry relaxes you. It helps you avoid a surge of adrenaline that can interfere with the effectiveness of local anesthetic. It will also help you remain calm as your dentist locates any difficult-to-find nerves so that anesthetic can be injected in the correct location.
  • Pain reduction – In your relaxed state, you will be less sensitive to pain.
  • Perspective – After a series of relaxing pain-free dental appointments, your perspective about dental visits will change. Many patients have found that after positive experiences with sedation, they actually look forward to dental visits.

Nitrous oxide – Nitrous oxide is also referred to as laughing gas. As you breathe it in throughout your appointment, you’ll have a sense of well-being and calmness. When your procedure is complete, the effects of nitrous oxide are quickly reversed as you breathe in pure oxygen.

Oral conscious sedation – This method uses mild commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medication to help you relax. You will be given the medication to take in advance of your appointment so you can arrive at the office relaxed and ready for treatment.

The success of numbing your gums will greatly improve with sedation dentistry. And it will improve the way you feel about going to the dentist. Schedule a consultation with a sedation dentist to discuss your options.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Steven Brooksher of Dentistry by Brooksher in Baton Rouge.

3 Best-Kept Secrets to Know about Sedation before Your Next Dental Procedure

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Many people think sedation dentistry is for dental cowards—people who run from dental visits or get sweaty and nauseous in the chair. If you think sedation is just for the dental phobic, think again. Even the calmest patients can benefit from this treatment.

3 Ways Sedation Dentistry Can Help

1. Saves Time if You’re Busy

When you receive sedation dentistry, you’ll be more relaxed than normal. Increasing discomfort from lengthy dental procedures is virtually negated when you’re sedated. Your dentist will be able to get more work done in less time. It’s possible that a dental procedure that would normally require two or three visits will only require one visit if you receive sedation.

If you have a busy work or home life, you’ll benefit by limiting the number of dental appointments required to complete your treatment. You will save travel time and the need to take additional time off work or away from home. The time you would have spent at the dental office can be saved and spent elsewhere.

2. You’ll Be Less Sensitive to Pain

  • Photo to illustrate the relaxing effects of a sedation dentistry. A young woman is lying on her back in a field of flowers. A blue sky full of clouds is above her.

When you’re ultra-relaxed, you are also less sensitive to pain. Even if you don’t have dental anxiety, isn’t it appealing to know that your visit—particularly with more invasive procedures—will be virtually painless?

A variety of dental treatment can be more comfortable, including:

3. Gets Rid of Gagging

Even people who are not afraid of the dentist can gag when dental tools are placed in their mouth. You will be able to better manage your gag reflex under sedation. Your dental hygienist or dentist won’t have to pause for you to regain your composure so that treatment can continue.

It Doesn’t Always Mean You’ll Be Drowsy

Sedation dentistry doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be drowsy or fall asleep. Your dentist will select a level appropriate for your dental procedure. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is the lowest level of sedation, and it can be quickly reversed. If you only need nitrous oxide, you can drive away from your dental appointment with no problem at all.

Other levels of sedation can make you drowsy, but you’ll know what to expect in advance of your dental appointment so you can arrange for transportation. But remember even if you receive a level of sedation that makes you drowsy—more dental work will be accomplished in a single visit, so it will save you time.

Request a Consultation

If you’re interested in learning more about how sedation dentistry can save you time and increase your comfort during dental appointments, schedule a consultation with an experienced dentist to discuss your options.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.