In corner number one is my regular dentist. He placed a dental crown a year ago which has given me nothing but trouble. He adjusted three different times and then said their’s nothing more he can do and it’s likely a matter of me just getting used to it. I felt too embarrassed to say anything else about it, but then yesterday while eating, it broke off. That’s where corner number two comes in. I just didn’t feel like my dentist was getting this right so I called an emergency dentist. I just wanted him to bond it back on but he insisted it needed to be replaced. I don’t know if that’s true or if he just wants to make a whole new crown. Can you advise me?

Virginia

Dear Virginia,

You have been through the mill with this dental crown. I don’t blame you from losing confidence in dentists. One of my pet peeves is when a dentist says, “You’ll get used to it.” That’s dental code for “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

There are usually two reasons for pain with a dental crown. The first is when there is a lingering infection. I’m guessing both your dentist and the emergency dentist did an x-ray because you were having so much trouble with it. They should have seen any infection on the x-rays, so I don’t think that’s your problem.

The second reason for pain is the crown is seated too high. I know you said he adjusted it, but I’m not confident he adjusted it properly. The fact that your crown broke off gives weight to it being seated too high. Either that or your dentist has no idea how to bond something. Either way, your dentist is having some skill struggles.

Your Options with this Dental Emergency

My recommendation is you ask your dentist for a refund. You shouldn’t have too much trouble getting one. The minimum life span of a dental crown is around five years. You got one. You didn’t even get a peaceful one. Instead, you had problem after problem. Every time you needed to have it readjusted cost you time from other things you could have been doing.

Now, what you do from there is up to you. One option is to have the emergency dentist re-do your crown. I haven’t examined it, but given how much trouble you’ve had with it, he may have seen something faulty in the crown which led him to tell you it’s important you replace it.

However, it sounds like you had some doubts about this diagnosis. You are perfectly within your rights to try a different dentist altogether. I wouldn’t go back to your original dentist. He’s struggling. This may be the perfect opportunity for you to find a new practice. Your dentist is obligated to provide all your treatment information so you don’t have to start over.

I hope this helps you.
This blog is brought to you by Decatur Metal Free Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.