she kept saying her tooth “felt tall,” and I thought maybe it’d settle, but nope, she started chewing weird and complaining even more.
That “tall” feeling is exactly what my son described after his filling last year. At first, I figured it was just him being sensitive, but when he started chewing on the other side all the time, I knew it wasn’t just in his head. Did your kid end up needing an adjustment, or did you have to go straight to more work like an onlay or crown? I’m always torn between waiting it out and just getting it fixed right away...
That “tall” feeling is exactly what my son described after his filling last year. At first, I figured it was just him being sensitive, but when he started chewing on the other side all the time, I knew it wasn’t just in his head.
Honestly, this is bringing back some memories for me. I had a root canal for the first time last month, and after they put in the temporary filling, my bite felt off—like one tooth was just... higher than the rest. I kept telling myself it would settle down, but after a few days of chewing weird and getting these little zings of pain, I started to worry I was just being dramatic. Turns out, my dentist said it’s pretty common for fillings or even crowns to feel “tall” if they’re just a bit too high. I needed a quick adjustment and it made a huge difference.
I totally get the dilemma between waiting to see if things settle or just going back in. I hesitated for almost a week because I didn’t want to seem paranoid, but now I wish I’d gone sooner. The relief was immediate after they shaved it down a bit.
As for onlays vs. crowns, my dentist actually suggested an onlay instead of a full crown since most of my tooth was still strong. At first, I was skeptical—like, are they just trying to save money or is this actually going to last? But she explained that onlays are less invasive and preserve more of your natural tooth, which sounded good to me. Insurance covered most of it, so cost wasn’t a huge issue, but I did have to wait about two weeks for the permanent onlay (temporary one in the meantime). So far, it feels pretty natural—definitely not “tall” anymore.
My advice, if you can call it that, is don’t feel bad about going back for an adjustment. It’s not just being picky if you’re uncomfortable or chewing differently. And if your dentist suggests an onlay instead of a crown, maybe give it some thought. I was anxious at first, but now I’m glad I didn’t go straight to a full crown. Dental stuff is stressful enough without second-guessing every weird feeling in your mouth...
That “tall” bite is a super common complaint after fillings or root canals, and honestly, it’s not something to just tough out. Even a tiny bit of extra height can throw off your bite and cause soreness or jaw issues if it’s left too long. Quick adjustment usually fixes it right away, like you said.
Onlays are a solid option when there’s enough healthy tooth left. They’re less aggressive than crowns—think of them as a middle ground. I’ve seen them last just as long as crowns in the right cases. Not every tooth needs a full crown after a root canal, despite what some folks think. The key is making sure the tooth is protected but not over-treated. Glad yours worked out!
Yeah, I totally get the “tall” bite thing—had that after a filling once and it drove me nuts until I went back for a quick fix. About onlays, do you feel like they blend in better than crowns? I always worry about the look, especially on my front teeth.
That tall bite thing is the worst—totally messes with your head every time you close your mouth. I had to go back twice after a filling to get it sorted, so I feel you. About onlays, I actually got one on a molar after a root canal, and honestly, it blends in way better than my old crown. The color match was spot on, and it doesn’t have that bulky edge you sometimes get with crowns. I’d be a bit nervous about doing it on a front tooth, though—mine’s in the back, so I don’t stress about it showing. But if you’ve got a good dentist, I think they can make onlays look pretty seamless, especially with the newer materials.
