That’s interesting, because I’ve actually had the opposite experience—maybe just lucky? Had a crown put in last year, and it felt a little weird for a week or two. I kept second-guessing whether it was my bite or just my brain being hyper-aware of something new. Ended up waiting it out, and honestly, it settled in fine. But then again, I get what you mean—sometimes you really do just know when something’s off. Makes me wonder how much of it is our nerves vs. actual issues...
Funny you mention that—sometimes it really is tough to tell if it’s your brain or the actual bite. But I’d just add, if something feels “off” for more than a couple weeks or you notice soreness in your jaw or headaches, it’s worth checking in. Bodies do adjust, but I’ve seen folks wait too long and end up with more discomfort than they needed. Guess it’s a balance between not panicking over every twinge and not ignoring real signs, right?
That’s the struggle—my brain turns into a full-on detective after any dental work. Got a crown a few months back, and for the first week, I was convinced it was too high, too low, or maybe just plotting against me. Every time I bit down on something, I’d pause like, “Wait, was that always like this?” My jaw started feeling weird, but then again, I also spent half my day poking at it with my tongue, which probably didn’t help.
I totally get what you’re saying about not panicking over every little thing, but it’s honestly hard when you’re new to this stuff. I almost called the dentist after two days because I thought my face was going numb (spoiler: it was just my imagination). Ended up waiting it out, and by week three it did settle down. Still, I wish someone had told me how much your brain can mess with you after a dental visit. It’s like, is this pain real or just my anxiety doing laps again?
Totally get where you’re coming from. Dental work messes with your head way more than anyone warns you about. I remember after my first crown, I was convinced something was off for days. My jaw felt weird, my bite felt “off,” and I couldn’t stop checking it with my tongue. Turns out, a lot of it was just my brain hyper-focusing on the new sensation—kind of like when you get a new pair of shoes and suddenly every step feels odd.
What helped me was giving it a little time (easier said than done, I know). The mouth is super sensitive and picks up every tiny change, but most of those “off” feelings settle down as your brain adjusts. If something still feels wrong after a couple weeks—like if you’re actually hitting your crown before your other teeth when you bite down—it’s worth getting checked. But that initial paranoia is so real, especially if you’re prone to anxiety.
I do think dentists could be better about warning us that it’s normal to feel weird for a while. Nobody told me either. I spent way too much time googling “crown feels too high” and convincing myself I’d need another appointment. In reality, things calmed down after about two weeks.
If you start to notice actual pain or can’t chew properly, that’s different and probably needs attention. Otherwise, it’s usually just your brain being extra cautious. Kind of wild how much our minds can amplify stuff like this...
That’s so true about dentists not warning us how weird things will feel at first. Did you have to go back for an adjustment, or did it settle on its own? I always wonder if I’m just overthinking because I really don’t want to pay for another visit unless it’s necessary. The mental side of dental work is wild—sometimes I can’t tell if it’s my bite or just my brain making up problems.
