My bite has been off since I got eight zirconia crowns last December. My dentist has tried to correct my bite every month since that time. I think he did some grinding on all ten crowns. I feel so much pressure from the grinding that it has made me anxious. In March the dentist had to stop the adjustment and reschedule me for a date when I could take sedation. Last month I broke out in hives on my face and inside my lips and gums. It’s probably the anxiety. Will I have any zirconia left in the crowns, and is it the zirconia giving me hives now? I dread the thought of replacing crowns with this dentist. Thanks. Henry
Henry,
Having zirconia crowns ground down to correct your occlusion can be uncomfortable because zirconia is a high-strength material. It is unfortunate that your bite is still off. If your dentist has tried to adjust your bite since December, it is unlikely that he will be successful with further attempts.
When your bite is off, it can cause jaw muscle spasms, headaches, earaches, neck pain, and other symptoms related to TMJ disorder. It’s time to get a second opinion from a dentist with advanced training in occlusion and bite. Training in how your upper and lower teeth meet and how to achieve a harmonious bite is beyond dental school.
Can Zirconia Crowns Cause Facial and Oral Hives?
See a dentist with occlusion and bite training about your dental crowns and sedation options.
Although you may be allergic to zirconia dust from grinding on the crows to adjust your bite, burning mouth syndrome is probably causing your hives. Stressful dental appointments can cause anxiety that triggers hives. If you were allergic to zirconia, you would have reacted before your dentist began grinding on your crowns.
Schedule a consultation with a dentist with advanced training to examine your crowns and discuss your treatment options. Explain your anxiety and sedation needs. As an experienced dentist gains your trust, your anxiety and hives should decrease.
David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Finley and his team do to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.
