In October, my dentist placed crowns on my left first and second molar teeth. One of the crowns fell off, so my dentist cemented and ground it down to correct the bite. Within two weeks, the back side of the crown (closest to my tongue) broke. I think she was too aggressive with that grinding tool. Now I feel weird when I chew on that side of my mouth. My dentist had emphasized how affordably she could provide the two crowns, but now I might need new ones. Thank you. Milan from NJ

Milan

Thanks for your inquiry.

Should a Dentist Grind on Your Crowns?

Dentists commonly adjust a new crown to your bite by grinding or filing it down. But the dentist must check your bite in intervals to ensure that not too much—or too little—of the crown is adjusted. But these are minor adjustments. Your dentist will shape and smooth the crown to prevent it from feeling rough.

But we are concerned about several aspects of your experience.

• Loose crowns – A permanent crown should not loosen or fall off. Your dentist might have aggressively prepared your tooth or bonded the crown incorrectly.
• Adjusting your bite – A dentist should adjust your bite and crown when placing it. It is not expected to modify the crown after re-cementing it. Something went wrong in the process. Still, your dentist must explain why she adjusted it.
• Broken crown – A crown should not break from conservative bonding. Dr. Perry would need to examine your crown, but it seems it is now dangerously thin.
• Affecting your bite – The adjustments affect your bite, which can cause multiple issues leading to TMJ symptoms.

Your dentist should compensate you. We recommend scheduling a second opinion with a cosmetic dentist trained in occlusion and bite. You don’t have to sacrifice quality to get affordable dental care.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.