I totally get your paranoia—after I got my root canal and crown, I was convinced every weird crunch in my cereal meant disaster. My dentist pushed zirconia too, probably because I’m a champion nighttime jaw-clencher (seriously, if teeth-grinding was an Olympic sport…). The night guard thing is hilarious though—I used to find mine under the bed, in the sheets, once even stuck to my cat. Took me a couple months to actually keep it on through the night.
Honestly, I worried about the crown coming loose for ages. But after almost three years, it’s still hanging in there, even after some questionable popcorn choices and one ill-advised attempt at beef jerky. I think as long as you stick with the night guard (even if it takes a while to get used to), you’re probably overthinking it—but hey, better safe than sorry, right? Dental work is expensive and I’m not trying to pay for another round anytime soon. Just try not to chew ice or do anything wild, and you’ll probably be fine.
I think as long as you stick with the night guard (even if it takes a while to get used to), you’re probably overthinking it—but hey, better safe than sorry, right?
I wish I could just relax about it, but I’m honestly not sure if “overthinking” is even possible when it comes to dental work, especially for kids. My daughter had a root canal and crown last year after a sports injury, and I’ve been on edge ever since. I know everyone says these things are sturdy—zirconia especially—but I still worry about every crunch and every snack. She’s careful, but kids are unpredictable and, to be honest, so is dental work sometimes.
The night guard thing is a bit different for younger patients. I had to practically bribe her to wear it, and half the time I find it on her pillow or tangled in her blanket. I’ve read that even with the best intentions, kids just don’t keep them on all night. That worries me, because I keep hearing that grinding can loosen the crown over time. I’d love to believe it’s just a matter of getting used to it, but I feel like we’re rolling the dice a bit.
Also, I know you mentioned eating popcorn and beef jerky, but our dentist specifically told us to avoid anything super chewy or hard—at least for the first year. I guess everyone’s dentist has their own guidelines, but I’m not sure I’d risk it. Maybe I’m just extra cautious, but after what we paid, I’d rather be the “mean parent” keeping her away from toffee and ice than end up back in the chair.
Maybe the anxiety gets better with time. Or maybe it’s just part of being responsible for someone else’s teeth, not your own. Either way, I’m not convinced the worry ever really goes away.
I know everyone says these things are sturdy—zirconia especially—but I still worry about every crunch and every snack. She’s careful, but kids are unpredictable and, to be honest, so is dental work sometimes.
Totally get this. My son had a crown put in after a bad fall at recess a couple years back, and even though the dentist swore it would “last longer than his baby teeth,” I felt like I was holding my breath every time he bit into something for months. I think being a parent just means you end up hyper-aware of all the ways things can go sideways, especially after you’ve already had a scare.
The night guard battle is real. I had braces as a kid and remember how hard it was to keep a retainer in, so I can only imagine how tough it is for a kid to wear a guard every night. Some mornings it would be under the bed, or in the dog’s mouth (seriously). We tried a sticker chart and a new book as a reward, which helped for a bit, but honestly, he still misses nights here and there. The dentist told us it’s better to wear it most nights than not at all, so I try not to stress if it’s not perfect.
You’re not alone on the food rules either. I thought I was being overprotective by cutting apples into thin slices and banning gum, but our dentist gave us a similar list—no hard candy, no ice, nothing super sticky. I do let him have popcorn sometimes, but only if he promises to be careful (and I’m hovering nearby with a water bottle). Maybe I’m just tired of feeling like the food police, but I’d rather nag now than pay for another crown.
I don’t think the anxiety ever goes away completely, but it does fade a little as time passes and you see things holding up. Two years in, my son’s crown has survived soccer balls to the face, pizza crusts, and Halloween candy (in moderation). Still, every dental checkup feels like an exam I’m waiting to fail. Maybe that’s just what happens when you’re responsible for someone else’s smile.
I get the food police thing—at some point I just stopped buying caramel for my own sanity, but my kid still manages to find it at birthday parties. Is anyone else’s dentist super strict about popcorn? Ours says the hulls are the real enemy, not the kernels, but honestly I can’t tell the difference half the time. Also, how do you keep track of the night guard? We’ve lost two already and I swear they vanish into thin air.
On the crown lasting, I’m with you—it’s like waiting for a pop quiz at every checkup. But after three years, my daughter’s has survived everything except one minor chip (which the dentist just smoothed out). I still hold my breath when she bites into anything crunchy, though. Anyone else have a crown last through a growth spurt? That’s my next worry...
Popcorn is basically a dental horror movie in our house. My orthodontist went on this whole tangent about hulls getting stuck and causing “havoc”—his word, not mine. I still let my kid have it at the movies, but I’m always hovering, ready to perform popcorn extraction duty. As for caramel, I just pretend it doesn’t exist until Halloween, then I brace myself.
Night guards are another mystery. Ours disappear like socks in the dryer. I’ve tried labeling, special cases, even a “guard jail” on the bathroom shelf, but they still go missing. At this point, I’m convinced there’s a parallel universe full of lost dental appliances.
On the crown front, my own lasted through braces and a pretty dramatic growth spurt—no cracks, just a little wear. I stressed every time I bit into an apple, but it held up. The dentist said as long as the fit’s good, crowns can ride out a lot. Still, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t flinch whenever I hear a crunch...
