I had to get three crowns on one side of my mouth. It’s my first time getting any crowns, so three at once is a big adjustment. I’m worried that I’m allergic to these. Ever since they put them in I’ve had dry mouth, my tongue burns, and my cheek is tingling and sore. I asked my doctor if it was an allergic reaction and he said it was very unlikely because I wasn’t having enough allergy symptoms. I’m having a hard time dealing with these physical changes in my mouth. Is he right? If so, what else could it be?
Olivia
Dear Olivia,
I think what’s going on here is your dentist doesn’t want to admit you have an allergy because then he’d have to replace your crown. His comment about you not having enough allergy symptoms would have made me laugh if it weren’t so pathetic and unhelpful to you. Exactly how many symptoms are required before it is an allergy? There are varying degrees of allergies as well. Was he waiting for you to have such a severe allergy you needed an EpiPen?
Here’s what I’m going to suggest. Get a list from your dentist of what was used in your crown. If there is any metal in the crown, I would start there. Ask your dentist for the Identalloy certificate. This lists the exact composition of all the alloys used in the crown. Labs are required to provide them, so don’t let him tell you he doesn’t have them.
Nickel is one of the prime candidates for allergies, so if that is in there it is likely the culprit. You could get allergy testing done, but I’ll be honest with you, those are expensive even with insurance. Though, if you’re having this much of a reaction it might be wise to figure out what is the culprit so you can stay away from it in the future.
It is possible to get a metal-free crown. If your current dentist doesn’t provide them, I can assure you a holistic dentist will. In that case, you’d just need to get a refund from your dentist and go to the one who can provide a crown which doesn’t cause you to have any allergies or sensitivities.
This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Warren Krutchick.