Did you get a new dental crown but now your bite feels off? This could be due to a high bite, which can cause discomfort and sensitivity. It happens when your new crown doesn’t fit right with your other teeth. If you’re experiencing dental crown bite adjustment symptoms, it’s essential to consult your dentist for proper alignment and relief.
After getting a dental crown, you might notice your bite feels different. This is often because the crown is a bit higher than your natural teeth. This imbalance can lead to discomfort and even harm your teeth and jaw if not fixed.
Knowing the signs of a high bite is key to getting the right treatment quickly. This article will cover the symptoms, causes, and how to fix them. We’ll help you ease the discomfort and keep your mouth healthy.
Key Takeaways
- A high bite after a dental crown can cause pain, discomfort, and sensitivity when biting or chewing.
- Common symptoms include uneven bite pressure, sensitivity when chewing, and discomfort on one side of the mouth.
- If you suspect a high bite, contact your dentist promptly for a bite adjustment to prevent further damage to your teeth and jaw.
- The bite adjustment procedure involves identifying high spots, polishing away excess material, and repeated checking until your bite feels normal.
- Timely treatment of a high bite can alleviate symptoms and ensure the longevity of your dental crown.
Understanding Dental Crown Bite Adjustments
When you get a new dental crown, it must fit well and match your natural bite. Sometimes, a new crown might feel too high or bulky, causing discomfort when you bite. This is why dental crown bite adjustments are important.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown, or tooth cap, covers a tooth that’s damaged, decayed, or not the right shape. It helps restore the tooth’s shape, size, strength, and look. Crowns can be made from porcelain, ceramic, metal, or a mix of these.
Why Bite Adjustments are Necessary
It’s key that a new dental crown fits well with your teeth and bite. If it’s too high or doesn’t fit right, you might have a high bite. This can cause:
- Pain or sensitivity in the affected tooth when biting down
- Discomfort or feeling that the crown is too tall compared to surrounding teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting comfortably
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures in the affected tooth
To fix these issues and make sure your bite is comfortable, your dentist might adjust your crown. They’ll shave down or reshape the crown to remove any extra material causing the high bite. The aim is to get your teeth to meet evenly and comfortably when you bite.
Bite adjustments are often needed to make sure your dental crown works well and feels good. If you’re feeling any discomfort or sensitivity after getting a new crown, tell your dentist. They can check your bite and make any needed changes.
Common Signs Your Bite May Be Off
After getting a dental crown, watch for changes in your bite or discomfort while chewing. An uneven bite can cause sensitivity, discomfort, and even harm your teeth and jaw. Here are signs that might show your bite is off after a dental crown:
Uneven Bite Pressure
Feeling that one side of your teeth is higher than the other is a clear sign of an uneven bite. This can lead to discomfort and stress on the affected tooth or teeth. You might also notice your bite feels different than before the crown was placed, indicating a need for adjustment.
Sensitivity When Chewing
Sensitivity or tenderness when chewing on the tooth with the new crown or on one side of your mouth could mean a high bite. This discomfort is often felt when eating or chewing, not when your teeth aren’t touching. Feeling sensitivity to cold might also point to an uneven bite, which can be checked with the clench test.
| Symptom | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity to cold | Uneven bite | Bite adjustment |
| Pain when biting down | High crown or filling | Bite adjustment |
| Discomfort on one side | Uneven bite pressure | Bite adjustment |
Discomfort on One Side of the Mouth
An uneven bite can cause discomfort on one side of the mouth, especially when chewing or biting down. This discomfort might be with jaw pain or soreness in the jaw muscles. If not fixed, an uneven bite can lead to more serious problems, like TMJ or tooth damage.
The clench test can help identify disharmony in the bite, with the presence of discomfort in any tooth indicating a bite problem.
If you notice these symptoms after a dental crown, it’s key to talk to your dentist. They can check your bite and adjust it for proper alignment. This should help ease any discomfort or sensitivity from an uneven bite.
Dental Crown Bite Adjustment Symptoms
After getting a new dental crown, watch out for signs you might need a bite adjustment. A common issue is feeling like your bite is too high, causing discomfort when you bite down. Spotting these signs early helps you get help from your dentist to ease the pain.
Pain When Biting Down
Feeling pain when you close your teeth together, even without eating, is a key sign of a high bite with a crown. This pain can be sharp and focus on the area around the new crown. If you feel this, reach out to your dentist right away for a bite adjustment.
Discomfort While Eating
Another sign of a high bite with a dental crown is discomfort while eating or chewing. This pain might not be as intense as when you just bite down, but it can still bother you. If you’re avoiding certain foods or eating hurts, talk to your dentist about it.
| Symptom | Description | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Pain when biting down | Sharp, localized pain when closing teeth together | High |
| Discomfort while eating | Pain or discomfort when chewing or eating food | Moderate |
| No pain when teeth are apart | Absence of discomfort when teeth are not in contact | Low |
No Pain When Teeth are Apart
If you feel pain when biting down or eating but not when your teeth are apart, it likely means your bite is too high. This pain happens mainly when your teeth touch, putting uneven pressure on the tooth and around it.
Don’t ignore these symptoms, as they can lead to more discomfort and harm to your tooth and the area around it.
Knowing these symptoms and getting help from your dentist quickly can make sure your recovery from a dental crown is smooth and pain-free.
What to Do if You Suspect a High Bite
If you think your dental crown is too high, act fast. Wait a day or two to get used to it, but if it still hurts, call your dentist. They can set up a dental appointment to fix the bite.
About half of people feel pain with temporary dental crowns. This can be from a bad fit, teeth grinding, cracks under the crown, infections, or cavities. A high bite puts too much pressure on your teeth, causing pain and sensitivity.
Never ignore a suspected high bite, as it can lead to inflammation, soreness, and pain in the ligaments around the tooth roots if left untreated.
At your dentist’s office, they will check your bite and adjust the crown if needed. This is usually quick and simple. It makes your bite feel right again. Signs you might have a high bite include:
- Pain or discomfort when biting down
- Sensitivity or soreness in the affected tooth
- Uneven pressure on the teeth when biting
- Discomfort or pain on one side of the mouth
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| High Bite | Improper crown fitting | Dental appointment for bite adjustment |
| Tooth Sensitivity | Exposed dentin due to high bite | Desensitizing toothpaste and bite adjustment |
| Jaw Pain | Uneven bite pressure | Bite adjustment and jaw exercises |
Getting a dental appointment and bite adjustment quickly can stop more problems. Your dentist will help fix your bite and keep your mouth healthy. They’ll work with you to avoid future issues with your dental crown.
The Bite Adjustment Procedure
If you feel pain or discomfort after getting a new dental crown, your dentist might suggest a bite adjustment. This fixes the problem by finding and smoothing out high spots on the crown. It makes sure your bite is even and comfortable again.
Identifying High Spots with Articulating Paper
Your dentist will use special paper called articulating paper during the bite adjustment. This paper marks the high spots on your crown, showing where adjustments are needed. You’ll bite down a few times, grinding your teeth, to help the paper pinpoint the problem areas.
Polishing Away Excess Material
After finding the high spots, your dentist will polish them away. They use special tools for this precise work. They remove small bits of material from the marked areas, lowering the high spots.
Repeated Checking Until Bite Feels Normal
After polishing, your dentist will check your bite with articulating paper again. This process of marking, polishing, and checking is repeated until your bite feels right. Your dentist will make small adjustments as needed, making sure your crown fits perfectly with your teeth.
This bite adjustment procedure is usually painless and doesn’t need anesthesia. Most people feel relief right away after the high spots are gone. They can enjoy a balanced and comfortable bite.
The bite adjustment procedure is key to making your new dental crown a success. It removes high spots, ensuring a natural, pain-free bite. This improves your oral health and overall well-being.
Conclusion
Knowing when a dental crown needs bite adjustment is key for good oral health and comfort. Signs include pain when biting down, discomfort eating, and uneven bite pressure. These symptoms can be mild or severe, affecting new and old crowns alike.
If you notice these signs, see your dentist right away for a bite adjustment. This fix involves using articulating paper to find high spots on the crown. Then, polishing away the excess material until your bite feels right. This process usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the case.
Fixing bite issues early stops bigger problems from happening. A well-fitted crown shouldn’t hurt or cause discomfort. So, don’t wait to get help if you think your bite is off. With the right care, you can keep your smile healthy and comfortable for many years.
FAQ
What are the common symptoms of a dental crown with a high bite?
Symptoms of a crown with a high bite include pain when closing teeth together, discomfort while eating or chewing food, and no pain when teeth are apart. These symptoms are true for all crowns, like ceramic, metal, gold, and implant ones.
What happens if a high bite is left untreated?
Leaving a high bite untreated can cause inflammation in the ligaments around the tooth roots. This leads to soreness and pain. It’s crucial to fix bite issues quickly to keep your teeth and gums healthy and comfortable.
What is a dental crown, and why are bite adjustments necessary?
A dental crown is a cap that looks like a tooth and covers a damaged or decayed tooth. It helps restore the tooth’s shape, size, strength, and look. Bite adjustments are needed if a new crown feels too high or bulky, causing discomfort when biting down.
What are the signs that your bite may be off after getting a dental crown?
Signs that your bite might be off after a dental crown include uneven bite pressure, with one side feeling higher than the other. You might also feel sensitivity or tenderness when chewing on the affected tooth or side. Discomfort is more noticeable when eating or chewing, not when teeth aren’t touching.
What should you do if you suspect your dental crown has a high bite?
If you think your dental crown has a high bite, you should contact your dentist and schedule an appointment for an adjustment. Wait a day or two to get used to the new crown, but if discomfort lasts, seek professional help without hesitation.
What happens during a dental crown bite adjustment procedure?
In a bite adjustment, your dentist will mark the high spots on the crown with articulating paper by asking you to bite down on it. You’ll bite up and down, and grind teeth side to side to find the areas needing adjustment. Then, your dentist will polish away the extra material with special tools. This process of marking, polishing, and checking is repeated until your bite feels right and comfortable.
Is the dental crown bite adjustment procedure painful?
The bite adjustment procedure is usually painless and doesn’t need anesthesia. Your dentist will carefully polish the crown to fit properly and ease any discomfort you might feel.
