My dentist also told me it’s stronger than I think, but I still chew on the other side out of habit.
I get what your dentist said, but I’m honestly not convinced mine is as strong as a crown. I’ve been super careful—maybe too careful?—and I still get random twinges if I bite down wrong. It’s been months, and my bite still doesn’t feel totally normal. Maybe I’m just overthinking it, but I do worry about cracking it. Has anyone’s onlay actually chipped or come loose? That’s my big fear.
I’m in the same boat, honestly. Got an onlay after my root canal and I STILL find myself chewing everything on the other side like it’s instinct. My dentist did the whole “it’s stronger than you think” pep talk too, but my brain refuses to believe it. I get those weird twinges sometimes, especially if I accidentally bite down on something crunchy (looking at you, kettle chips).
It’s been about seven months for me, and while nothing’s chipped or popped off (knock on wood), I still get paranoid every time I eat anything harder than a banana. I even cut my sandwiches into tiny pieces for a while… felt like a toddler.
From what my dentist said, onlays are supposed to be sturdy as long as you don’t go full walnut-cracker mode. But yeah, the anxiety is real. If anyone has actually cracked one, I kinda want to know too—just for peace of mind (or maybe so I know what not to do).
I STILL find myself chewing everything on the other side like it’s instinct.
That’s honestly more common than you’d think. Even when the onlay is perfectly bonded and structurally sound, our brains just hang onto that “protect the tooth” reflex for ages. I see a lot of people who, months later, are still babying that side without even realizing it.
The “weird twinges” you mentioned—those usually settle down over time, but if they linger or get worse, it’s always worth mentioning at your next check-up. Sometimes it’s just nerves settling, but sometimes there’s a bite adjustment needed.
Out of curiosity, did your dentist use porcelain or composite for your onlay? Some folks feel more confident with one material over the other, even though both are strong. I’ve heard stories from patients who went right back to eating nuts and apples, and others who stick to soft foods for a year.
It’s a real balancing act between trusting the dental work and listening to your own comfort level. Have you noticed your confidence improving at all as time passes, or is the anxiety sticking around?
I totally get that instinct to favor the other side—I did the same thing after my onlay. Even after my dentist reassured me it was stable, I still caught myself chewing on the “safe” side for weeks. For me, it was a porcelain onlay, and at first I was so careful, but after a couple of months I realized I’d started using both sides again without thinking much about it. The nerves definitely took a while to settle down, but now I barely notice. Funny how our brains just take their sweet time catching up to what our teeth can actually handle.
Yeah, I totally did the “chew on the other side” dance after my onlay too. It’s like my brain was convinced that side was made of glass or something. I remember feeling every tiny crunch for weeks, just waiting for disaster. Eventually, I forgot about it…until popcorn got stuck back there and I realized, hey, I’m using both sides again. The nerves definitely take their time catching up with reality.
