AboutSteven C. Scherr, D.D.S. Expertise Comprehensive Dentistry, TMJ Dysfunction Therapy, and Cosmetic Dentistry. Nineteen years of experience including hospital residency (Sinai Hospital of Baltimore), and training at the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. Currently in private rehabilitative practice.
Experience I was the Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Maryland Dental School in 1981. I served as a General Practice Resident at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in 1981-82, and have been in private dental practice since that time. My practice is now located in Owings Mills, MD, a suburb of Baltimore. My studies at The L.D. Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education in Florida has enriched my practice and my patients. It was there that I learned the true meaning of excellence.
Question Two days ago, I got done a composite filling on my first molar (lower right jaw). The teeth on the right side (upper as well as lower) were deep-cleaned before the filling.
Now I can feel that the incisors on the upper jaw are much ahead of the incisors on the lower jaw when I bite. That is, I can *feel* the tip of lower jaw incisors touching the inside of the upper jaw insicisors. This is so strange ..... My bite had never had any problems before.
Is it possible that I still need to give this some time ? I was given local anesthesia before deep-clean, and timed antibiotics were also placed under my gums.
Answer Ada,
I agree that it is best to give this a week or two to resolve on its own. Assuming you have nearly a full complement of teeth with a reasonably normal bite, even a single poorly shaped molar filling is very unlikely to make the front teeth bump harder. Now, if you have only a few back teeth, or if you are normally unable to bite on teeth other than the molars, that would be very different.
It is likely that muscle splinting from the anesthetic injection and holding the mouth open for a prolonged period has temporarily altered the path of jaw closure to a slightly more forward lower jaw position. This will cause the front teeth to bump harder, and should resolve as healing takes place.
