I’m disappointed about needing to leave my holistic dentist due to an issue with a dental crown. She replaced my porcelain fused-to-metal crown with a CEREC crown she made in her office. The dentist cemented the crown before checking it for fit and bite. It felt off when she checked my bite, so she sanded the crown and said it should feel better. But it doesn’t feel better.
I returned to the office the following week, and the dentist said the crown was hitting the opposing upper teeth too far, so she sanded the tooth. Then, she sanded my front center teeth for further bite correction. My bite was still off, so the dentist referred me to an orthodontist. I don’t need an orthodontist. When I checked out, I did not reschedule.
Last week, I saw another dentist (not a holistic dentist) for a second opinion. That dentist said I needed a new crown and possibly an orthodontist. I don’t know who to trust, but I want my money back for the crown. Doing nothing about the crown or my bite is not an option, but I don’t know what to do. Could I really need braces? – Thanks. Valentina from IL
Valentina,
Look for a dentist with occlusion and bite training who respects your preferences for holistic dentistry
Although few dentists are completely holistic in their treatment philosophy, you can find dentists willing to accommodate your holistic concerns. The best option is to find a dentist with advanced training in occlusion and bite who is willing to meet your holistic preferences.
Your description of your dentist’s care violates the standard of care. Correcting your bite may take much dental work and perhaps orthodontic treatment.
Although your dentist made the new crown with CAD/CAM technology, your dentist’s technique—not the technology—was at fault. Crowns made with CAD/CAM technology are biocompatible and should fit precisely.
We recommend finding a highly skilled dentist for a third opinion but ensure the dentist has post-graduate occlusion and bite training. You compare this dentist’s findings with the second-opinion dentist to help you feel comfortable about treatment recommendations.
Sugar Land cosmetic dentist Dr. Siny Thomas sponsors this post. Read how Dr. Thomas provides patients with some of the best dental care in Sugar Land.
I’ve had three dentists work on my bridge for a missing canine tooth. It’s a mess. The crown for the canine tooth is too long, and it looks like a fang. When I talk to people, I can tell they notice the tooth, and I am embarrassed.
I asked my dentist for amalgam filling removal, but her answer was sketchy. After losing 75 pounds from exercising and eating clean, I want to keep my lifestyle. I have some unhealthy silver fillings in my mouth and want them replaced. We live in a small community, and I have only found one holistic dentist about 60 miles away who does not use amalgam. I asked my dentist (one of three dentists in town) about removing the silver fillings, and she didn’t do anything special to prevent me from breathing in the amalgam. Would asking my dentist to learn about sanitary amalgam removal be insulting? Thanks. Esther
I have a lot of autoimmune issues going on, in addition to allergies, and I need a new dentist. Joint pain is a big concern for me, and I notice that it gets worse when I am exposed to certain chemicals. I went to a different state to get some thorough testing done and found out everything or almost everything I am allergic to or have a chemical sensitivity to. I have cleaned my house from top to bottom and removed everything I reasonably could that triggers my symptoms. Now I am trying to address environmental issues and anything else that could affect me.
My teeth are blotchy from enamel hypoplasia. I haven’t done anything about it, but now that I’m 27, I cannot ignore it. The older I get, the more self-conscious I become about my smile. I am vegan and use natural products as much as possible, so I prefer a solution for my teeth that matches my lifestyle and will not unnecessarily expose me to harsh chemicals or metals. Do I have biocompatible options for making my teeth look better? – Thank you. Cheyenne from NM
My dentist wants to replace my discolored fillings near the top of my six front teeth with Lumineers. I’ve had “white” fillings for three years, but they never matched my tooth color. The fillings look beige and are already darkening and seem to look worse after brushing my teeth. Teeth bleaching doesn’t help.
In February 2021, a cosmetic dentist placed zirconia crowns on two of my molar teeth. He used a lot of water to protect some of my surrounding teeth. It was hard for me to breathe, I was throwing up water, and the dentist had to stop the procedure for 30 minutes until I was calm again. The whole ordeal strained my throat and affected my speech. And I had lingual nerve damage that lasted almost a year.