Am I being told the right info about bonding and my bite? Can it be fixed?

Question

Dentist offered to fix the gap and lengthen my 2 front teeth. Ended up bonding 6 front & "protecting" the back. Great, until he smoothed the back out a week later & left me with NO BITE, says he can't find it. Now jaw pain, sensitivity, no chewing and now I'm seeing (feeling and spitting through) triangle gaps between my uppers. I've been without a fitting retainer for 3 weeks since he took away my bite. He says that all this is normal and it's all in my head. Is it? *eating disorder survivor

Ira Shapira, DDS · Answer

I would seek out a dentist who understands TMJ disorders ASAP.  This is not normal and can lead to TMJ syndrome and many problems.  Your history of eating disorders can be important if you were a purger and lost significant enamel predisposing you to problems.  Eating disorder patients often have high anxiety and /or OCD which also make jaw issues worse.Ira L Shapira DDS, D,ABDSM, D,AAPM, FICCMOChair, Alliance of TMD OrganizationsDiplomat, American Academy of Pain ManagementDiplomat, American Board of Dental Sleep MedicineRegent & Fellow, International College of CranioMandibular OrthopedicsBoard Eligible, American Academy of CranioFacial PainDental Section Editor, Sleep & Health Journal

Member, American Equilibration SocietyMember, Academy of Applied Myofunctional Sciences

Hisham Kaloti, DDS (retired) · Answer

first congrats on your new smile!

That said, whenever there's a unwelcome change in the bite, your jaw joint has to adjust to it and sometimes that means discomfort or pain temporarily until the bite is corrected back to ideal.

From the sounds of it, you need a comprehensive bite evaluation not just on the front teeth! Taking the front teeth completely out of the bite maybe the tip of the problem. If your bondings are not allowing you to wear your retainer, then all of your teeth maybe on the move and hence the headaches and that could be making your pain worse!

I would recommend you go back to your dentist and get a comprehensive bite adjustment and then a well fitted retainer or bitesplint as soon as possible!

Good luck

Am I being told the right info about bonding and my bite? Can it be fixed?

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Everything you need to know about Dental Bonding

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Am I being told the right info about bonding and my bite? Can it be fixed?

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Everything you need to know about Dental Bonding

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.