I get what you mean about forgetting which tooth had the work done. After a few months with my crown, I really have to think about it—sometimes I’ll even run my tongue along my teeth and can’t immediately tell which one it is. The only giveaway is if I bite into something extra crunchy and feel that tiny difference in pressure.
Sticky foods are still on my “maybe not” list too. I had my crown come loose once after eating caramel, which was honestly more annoying than painful. The dentist said it happens more often than people think, especially in the first year. I’ve also noticed that certain gums are way stickier than others, so I just avoid them altogether now.
I don’t know if the horror stories are outdated, but I do think dental tech has improved a lot. My mom had a root canal years ago and said it was a nightmare. Mine was just... long and kind of boring, like you said. The anticipation was definitely worse than the actual root canal. I spent days stressing, then it was just a numb jaw and a sore face from keeping my mouth open.
One thing I still do is check my bite every now and then. I had braces for a few years and got used to being hyper-aware of how my teeth fit together. If something feels off, I get a bit paranoid and start poking around, but most of the time it’s just in my head.
All in all, I’d rather not go through another root canal, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected. I still avoid the sticky stuff and chew carefully on the crowned tooth, just in case. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but better safe than sorry.
The only giveaway is if I bite into something extra crunchy and feel that tiny difference in pressure.
That’s exactly it—I swear some days I can’t tell which tooth is the crown until I hit a popcorn kernel or a hard nut. Drives me a bit nuts, honestly. I’m with you on the sticky foods. After my first crown popped off from a toffee, I started cutting everything into tiny pieces just to be safe. Maybe it’s overkill, but after all that dental work, I’d rather be paranoid than end up back in the chair. I do think tech has improved, but I still don’t trust those horror stories are completely gone... old habits die hard.
I get where you’re coming from—sticky foods are definitely the enemy after a crown. I used to be super careful too, but I’ve actually loosened up a bit over time. I was so paranoid at first, like you, after hearing all the horror stories and seeing my dad’s crown come off during a family dinner (he bit into a caramel and just froze mid-chew). But honestly, after a couple years with mine, I’ve found that most crowns these days are way sturdier than I expected. I eat popcorn and even the occasional chewy candy now, though I do still avoid taffy and those super sticky caramels.
I totally get the anxiety though—after you’ve been through all that dental work, the last thing you want is another trip to the dentist. But for me, cutting everything into tiny pieces started to feel like it was taking the fun out of eating. Maybe I’ve just gotten lucky, but my dentist kept reassuring me that as long as I don’t go wild with jawbreakers or ice cubes, my crown should hold up fine.
I guess what I’m saying is, it’s possible to relax a little without tempting fate too much. The tech really has come a long way, and while there are always outliers, most folks I know haven’t had their crowns pop off unless they really pushed it. That said, I still cringe whenever someone offers me a caramel apple at Halloween... some things just aren’t worth the risk.
But yeah, that subtle pressure difference is always there for me too—kind of like a little reminder of all the dental drama I survived. At least the root canal pain is gone, right?
That’s honestly such a relief to hear. I was super anxious about eating anything remotely chewy after my crown went in, too—felt like I was babying that side of my mouth for months. I still steer clear of caramel (can’t unsee my uncle’s crown popping out mid-Twix bar), but I’ve definitely gotten more relaxed with things like popcorn and chips. It’s wild how much dental tech has improved compared to what our parents dealt with.
That weird pressure difference you mentioned is real, though. Mine never totally went away, but it’s more like background noise now. And yeah, the root canal pain disappearing made all the fuss totally worth it for me. Sometimes I forget how much it used to hurt just to drink cold water.
I get wanting to protect your investment, but at some point it’s nice to just enjoy food again without overthinking every bite. Feels good not to live in constant fear of another dental emergency... well, except maybe during Halloween season.
I get where you’re coming from about wanting to just eat normally again, but I’m still a little paranoid about certain foods. Popcorn and chips seem harmless, but I’ve actually had a kernel wedge itself right at the crown margin—ended up back at the dentist for a quick check. Maybe I’m just unlucky, but it made me realize how easy it is to forget those things aren’t quite as sturdy as real teeth.
Also, that pressure difference you mentioned bugs me more than I expected. It’s not painful, but sometimes it’s just distracting, especially with hot or cold stuff. I do wonder if anyone’s ever had that fully go away or if it’s just something you get used to. Dental tech is way better now, but I still feel like there’s a limit to how “natural” a crown can feel.
I’d love to be less cautious, but after spending that much on dental work, I can’t help but be a little overprotective. Maybe I’ll loosen up eventually… just not sure I’m there yet.
