I received same-day crowns in June to close a large gap. My dentist placed the crowns on six upper front teeth. Since then, my mouth hasn’t closed well, and the crowns interfere with my speech. I think the tension from it all is causing dry mouth and sore lips. I’m so tense that my jaw and neck hurt, too. I don’t understand why this is happening. I’ve complained to my dentist, but her adjustments haven’t helped. Will removing the crowns resolve it?  – Thanks. Drew from MT

Drew,

It’s good that you’re seeking advice. One of our dentists would need to examine your crowns for a definite diagnosis, but the crowns are likely causing the issues. However, your symptoms could occur with any crowns—not just same-day crowns.

Dental crowns should not cause pain, dry mouth, or issues with your speech. Your descriptions sound like your new crowns opened your bite too much.

Why Might Same-Day Crowns Make Your Mouth Dry?

Your crowns may dry your mouth if they are too thick, too long—or both. Your lips should close naturally without effort. When crowns interfere with your mouth and teeth, the problems you’ve described can occur. The consequences are severe enough to affect your oral health and contribute to other issues.

• Lip incompetence – When your teeth prevent your lips from closing naturally without effort, it results in lip incompetence, including numbness and dry mouth. If your mouth doesn’t close properly, it interrupts saliva flow that contains antibodies that fight tooth decay. A dry mouth interrupts saliva and breeds bacteria that lead to tooth decay.
• Misaligned bite – When your bite—how your upper and lower teeth fit together—is off, it can cause speech problems and TMJ-related jaw and neck pain.

We recommend visiting a cosmetic dentist for a second opinion. Dentists have difficulty achieving the right fit and bite when multiple crowns are placed on successive teeth. An advanced cosmetic dentist will examine your crowns and let you know your options for correcting crown placement or replacing them altogether.

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post.