I have been waiting for decent crowns from my cosmetic dentist for 6 months. I got a temporary crown on July 12 of last year. 3 times a crown came in from the lab but it didn’t fit right. Both times the crown was shoving against the tooth behind it and the one in front of it. It was like the crown was too big. After the crown was removed the dental assistant took impressions of my mouth again. I have had 4 different impressions. My dentist told me not to worry because the temporary crown will hold up. How long am I going to have to wear this thing? Is it normal to take so long to get a crown to fit right? Is it too late to get out of the commitment with this dentist? Thanks. Ian

Ian – Although your dentist practices cosmetic dentistry, he or she might not be a skilled cosmetic dentist. A well-made and fitted temporary crown can last several months, but the force of chewing on an imbalanced crown can affect your bite. In most cases, a permanent crown is received and placed in about three weeks. When a temporary crown needs to worn for a prolonged period, some dentists replace it with a new temporary crown to ensure it doesn’t wear out and put your oral health in jeopardy. A misaligned bite can cause tooth, head, and neck pain.

Below are some things to consider:

• If four impressions of your teeth were taken, it is likely that the previous three impressions were not taken correctly. This raises concern about the ability to correctly fit your crown.
• We encourage you to speak frankly with your dentist about your concerns, and ask for his or her estimate on when you will receive your permanent crown.
• You can also consider receiving a second opinion from an experienced, accredited cosmetic dentist. Precise, digital images or impressions of your teeth will be taken to help produce a crown that fits correctly. With current technology, a skilled cosmetic dentist can accurately take impressions of your teeth. He or she will also work with a talented ceramist to give you beautiful crowns that fit well.

We hope that your issue is resolved soon and that you will be very pleased with the results.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.