The “crunch-panic” is so real—I thought I’d broken something the first time I bit down on a carrot after my onlay. Took me weeks to stop flinching every time I heard that sound. And yeah, insurance… it’s like they want us to do dental gymnastics just to save a tooth. But honestly, keeping more of your own tooth just feels better in the long run. Hang in there, it does get less weird with time.
Not gonna lie, I get why people want to keep as much of their own tooth as possible, but sometimes I wonder if it’s really worth all the stress. I had an onlay after a root canal on my molar, and for months I was super anxious about biting into anything crunchy. Every time there was a weird sound or sensation, I’d get this mini panic attack thinking something cracked. It’s like your brain just doesn’t trust that tooth the same way anymore.
Honestly, after all that, I kinda wish I’d just gone with a full crown. I know onlays are supposed to be more conservative and “tooth-friendly,” but the peace of mind with a crown is hard to beat. At least for me, it felt sturdier and less prone to those weird sensations. Plus, my insurance actually covered more of the crown than the onlay, which made no sense to me at all… but whatever.
I guess everyone’s different, but I wouldn’t say keeping more of your own tooth always feels better. Sometimes it just feels like you’re babying it forever. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I’d rather have something that feels solid and lets me eat what I want without overthinking every bite.
Every time there was a weird sound or sensation, I’d get this mini panic attack thinking something cracked.
That’s exactly what I’m worried about! I haven’t even had my root canal yet and already dreading the idea of biting into stuff. The thought of babying a tooth forever just stresses me out. Does a crown really feel that much sturdier? I want to stop overthinking every chew...
The thought of babying a tooth forever just stresses me out.
Totally get this. I used to freak out every time I chewed something crunchy after my root canal. The crown honestly feels pretty solid, though—way sturdier than the temporary stuff they put on first. It took me a few weeks to trust it, but now I barely think about it unless I’m eating something wild like popcorn kernels (which maybe isn’t the best idea anyway). The anxiety does fade, promise.
Ugh, I’m right there with you about the stress. I just had my first root canal and the idea of “babying” a tooth forever honestly freaks me out too. I keep thinking, what if I bite down wrong or forget and eat something too chewy? Even with the permanent crown, I’m always kind of second-guessing myself. I know people say you get used to it, but it’s hard not to worry.
I’ve been reading about onlays and it sounds like they’re less invasive than full crowns, but then I get nervous—do they really hold up as well? My dentist said crowns are safer for back teeth but I still wonder if onlays are easier to maintain or less likely to break off. I wish there was a way to just fix the tooth and not have to think about it every time I eat something crunchy. Anyway, hearing that the anxiety fades is reassuring... but right now, I feel like every snack is a risk!
