Is this TMJ??

sudzs

I've had lots of treatment over the summer including having a crown fitted which was too big and impeded my bite causing jaw ache. The crown was filed back to fit and the ache stopped. This crown was replaced a couple of months later with exactly the same result, jaw ache.

Again it was filed down to fit and the jaw ache went away. But 3 weeks after that the jaw ache returned for no apparant reason. It feels like the muscles are going into spasm and the TM joint feels sore to the touch after a day or so of aching I had been back to the dentist 3 times in those 3 weeks to try and get the crown smoothed down as for some reason it had not been polished after the filing down.

As far as I can tell the bite is o.k. I don't grind or clench at night (that I am aware of anyway) and first thing in the morning it is perfect. But after a couple of hours, whatever way I'm holding my jaw, it is aching again.

Is this something I will suffer with indefinately? Is it like having a "bad back" in that the slightest thing can set it off?

Any advice or input appreciated!

BryanL

sounds like you have a lot of problems?

"lots of treatment over the summer including having a crown fitted which was too big and impeded my bite causing jaw ache"
maybe it wasn't causing the ache at all?
why was the this, first crown replaced?

Didn't you have a different tooth crowned since then with another dentist with the same problems?

georgieporgy

sudzs, as Bryan says , you have told us about your problems with your crowns in a few other threads. it would be easier for us to keep track of things if you kept all your comments on the same thread. We could offer you better advice.

My advice now for the benefit of other readers is I hope people can see that there is more to crowns than the price.

The good clinician generally knows his/her value and will generally price their work accordingly. This doesn't necessarily mean that the most expensive is the best. But it does suggest that the cheapest may not be the best.

sudzs

sounds like you have a lot of problems?

I do, I do!

Sorry about yet another thread but I didn't like to drag up an old rambling one about the crowns when I was asking about TMJ. But I see how it is completely relevent.

BrianL, the first crown was a very tight fit making flossing difficult. There were also problems with the margins that seemed to be shredding the floss and there was some bleeding around the gum. Initially this crown had been too high and my other teeth were not meeting as they should and I'm sure this is what gave me the jaw ache. It went away when the first dentist filed it back. But I went to a different dentist to get a second opinion on that and other issues such the quality of the crown for the top price I had paid and he suggested replacing the crown due to the flossing/margin problems.

The replacement crown was again too high impeding my bite again and the jawache returned within a few days. After 4 return visits it was reduced enough to ease the ache but almost down to the gold alloy now.

The ache has returned 3 weeks after this and 3 further visits to get the bloody thing eventually polished :rolleyes:

The good clinician generally knows his/her value and will generally price their work accordingly. This doesn't necessarily mean that the most expensive is the best. But it does suggest that the cheapest may not be the best.

Absolutely! The first dentist was top price and the second guy who was supposed to solve my probs was quite reasonably priced but again I am still in discomfort.

Off to see a new dentist on friday! Got a personal recommendation for this one as apposed to choosing one on the basis of their lovely website and offers of sedation (dentist no. 1) or an online recommendation (dentist no.2)