My dentist told me that my bite needed to be opened up and crowned all the teeth to do that. Aside from the unbelievable cost of this procedure, the dry mouth that resulted from it has been complete agony for me. I think it is because it is hard to close my mouth now. Please tell me you have some advice for me that can help.
Melissa
Dear Melissa,
When a dentist crowns all the teeth, it is called a full mouth reconstruction. This is actually one of the most advanced procedures in dentistry. When done correctly, it can be very helpful for patients with debilitating TMJ Disorder or other significant bite issues. Unfortunately, I believe your dentist was in over his or her head.
He seems to have opened your bite up too much by making your teeth so tall that you can no longer properly close your mouth. We call this lip incompetence and it is serious. The dry mouth you are experiencing can actually destroy the health of your teeth and gums. In addition, your bite being open too far, will lead to jaw pain at some point as well.
Let’s focus on the teeth and gums. When your mouth is dry that means you are not able to retain enough saliva. Most patients do not realize that our saliva is one of our best weapons against tooth decay and gum disease. This is because it contains bacteria-fighting minerals. Without that, you will see an increase in cavities and gum disease. In my mind, your dentist thinking this is an acceptable condition to leave your teeth is malpractice.
This needs to be redone completely. I would ask for a refund. He or she may press back against that. If that happens, it will be helpful to have a second opinion on your side. Mine will not count because I have not examined you. I am simply going based on your description. You will need to have a dentist examine you. When you do, make sure it is someone with experience in full-mouth reconstructions. Call their office and ask how many they’ve done. Another important thing will be to make it a blind second opinion. That means you don’t tell them who the dentist was that did the work. The dental world is a small one. If it turns out they are friends, you don’t want him in an awkward situation. Just tell the second opinion dentist what is going on and ask what their advice is. If it is similar to mine, they can help you secure that refund so you can get this done well and not have your teeth and gums at risk.
This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.