Yeah, I’ve got a molar with the root canal + crown combo from about 5 years ago. Still feels kinda “off” sometimes, like you said—almost like it’s not really part of my mouth? I was super anxious about the cost and if it’d even last, but so far it’s hanging in there. I still chew on the other side out of habit though... just in case.
I get what you mean about the “off” feeling, but honestly, I think using the tooth more might help. I was super hesitant at first too—just kept babying it out of fear. Eventually, I started chewing on that side again and it actually started to feel more normal over time. Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes we protect those teeth a bit too much?
Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes we protect those teeth a bit too much?
I totally get this. I was super cautious with mine at first, too—honestly, mostly because I didn’t want to risk messing up something I paid so much for. But after a while, I realized I was overthinking it. Started chewing normally again and, weirdly, the “off” feeling faded. I do wonder, though, if there’s a line between being careful and just wasting all that money by not using the tooth. Dental work isn’t cheap, so I figure I might as well get my money’s worth, right?
It’s funny how much mental energy goes into “protecting” a tooth that’s technically fixed, right? I did the same thing after getting my root canal and crown. For months, I chewed on the other side—even cut up apples into tiny pieces. At some point I realized I was treating it like a fragile piece of glass, even though my dentist kept saying, “That crown’s stronger than your real tooth ever was.”
I get wanting to be careful after dropping all that cash on dental work. Who wouldn’t? But if you’re not using the tooth at all, wouldn’t that almost defeat the purpose of getting it fixed in the first place? My dentist told me the biggest risk is chipping porcelain if you’re cracking hard candies or ice, but otherwise, crowns are meant for daily use. I guess it’s easy to forget that when you’ve gone through weeks of sensitivity and weirdness.
I will say, for me, it took a while before things felt totally normal. There was this subtle ache—not pain, just a reminder that something was different. I worried I’d done something wrong at first, but apparently that’s common. Anyone else get those phantom twinges months later? Eventually I stopped noticing it.
Honestly, after a year or so, I just stopped thinking about it. Now I eat popcorn and nuts with zero hesitation. Kind of wild considering how nervous I was at first. Maybe the trick is just giving yourself permission to trust the work (and your own bite) again?
Curious if anyone’s gone decades with their crown still going strong? I hear horror stories about crowns popping off or needing replacement after five years, but mine’s almost at ten and still hanging in there... Is that luck, better tech these days, or am I just not testing fate enough?
Ten years is awesome—honestly, that’s better than most of my friends’ track records. I’m at year seven with mine, and it’s still holding up just fine. Funny you mention the phantom twinges; I had those too, especially in the first few months. Sometimes I’d bite down and brace for pain that never came. I do think tech has improved a lot, but maybe you’re just treating your crown right (or you got lucky with a dentist who really knew their stuff). Either way, here’s hoping for another decade!