E4D (Cerec) and Impression question...

[scared0902]

1. I had an E4D onlay done today but got some impression trays to "practice" with from my dentist in case I ever need one. This was my biggest fear because I thought it would make me gag and vomit. I washed them off and popped them in, expected to gag and pull them out right away. Nothing. Doesn't bother my gag reflex at all...? I'm guessing the impression material makes it much worse...? Could I try some toothpaste in them to see. It seems like a waste of toothpaste, but I sort of want to get the full feeling.

As a child, I had these foam trays with flouride in them (top and bottom in simultaneously) with the sucker in the middle. I gagged and panicked, and this is where my fear of the impression tray comes from, but the trays I got today were plastic and much trimmer. I guess my question is, if the tray doesn't bother me, will impressions bother me? Should I try some toothpaste in the trays to see if it's the goo that is my issue?

2. I had an E4D onlay on number 31 today. It went well...I think. It was a pretty easy process. The bad taste from the etcher or cement was really the worst part! They basically just cemented it in and polished the margins (from what I could tell). Will the edges where the onlay meets the tooth be prone to decay (I have a recurrent decay problem). I guess it's probably the same as the margins with a composite filling. The dentist said the onlay should last a long time. Will it last 5 years? I've never, ever had a filling last five years, so I'd be glad to get that out of it. Any experiences with onlays, especially Cerec or E4D?

Thanks!

 

[scared0902]

Another question--My last appoint was about 2.5 hours (I had a break in there) and my TMJ hurt very badly toward the end. They offered a bite block, but my mouth is so small there isn't room. They also offered to put in a temporary filling, but I wanted to get it done. Anyway, jaw has been hurting since. This isn't unusual for me after dental work of any kind, so I've been icing and taking Advil, etc. It's definitely out of whack because I can't close it normally or eat very well, but this isn't anything new.

I know I'm cleching at night again and am seeing a different dentist this week to get a new NTI made. When I clench at night the new onlay hurts, but it doesn't hurt when I try and clench on it during the day (but it is hugely sensitive to cold, but I hope that it will settle down over the next few days). My bite also seems different when I wake up in the middle of the night--like my jaw is shifting.

I guess my questions are:

1. Does a problem with the TMJ cause jaw shifting so that the teeth don't fit together normally and then, over the course of the morning, shift back into place? I don't mean the teeth shifting--I mean inflammation causing the jaw to sit in a different place? Or could it be a bite problem that's off? I'd prefer to avoid and more drilling in the area (even to adjust the bite) because I can barely open my mouth and don't want the jaw problem to get worse AND I'm scared even a little more trauma is going to mean a root canal. I know there's no way for you to know for sure, but could it just be my TMJ acting up?

2. Am I going to crack my new, expensive onlay before I get a bite guard on Wednesday? I know you can't really answer this, but should it be strong enough to last 6 nights under this pressure?

3. I know new crowns can be sensitive to cold for a while, and I've had fillings that were sensitive for months, so I'm assuming I should just wait and see what happens and not panic. (It's only sensitive to frozen things like ice cream and not cold things like ice water.) How long should I wait on the sensitivity? I already use a sensitive toothpaste once a day plus a prescription flouride one twice a day plus peridex once a day.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Gordon]

1) Yes, you can get a bit of change in the jaw position when TMJ rears its ugly head
2) Don't know, Mike's the Cerec expert on here, he might pop up with an answer shortly. I'd think not though.
3) It sounds OK to me, I'd wait a bit longer before worrying about it.

 

[scared0902]

Thanks for your response. My jaw is just acting crazy I think. My bite will feel really normal but then be off in an hour. The pain is actually in my neck and shoulder and my entire face. It was a 2.5 hour appointment, and I should have known it wasn't a good idea and just stick to one procedure at a time.

I called my dentist today, and they suggested I wait a week or so until I panic. I'll have my new biteguard on Wednesday, so that will take the pressure off the actual teeth at night, at least!

Thanks again.