Tag Archives: zirconia crowns

Zirconia Allergy or Burning Mouth Syndrome?

I had two zirconia crowns placed. I’m never a great dental patient because I have a bit of anxiety, but I do my best. Getting these crowns was a big deal for me, though you might find it silly. Since then, I have had this burning and itching in my mouth since getting the crowns. I went back in to see the dentist and asked if I was allergic to the zirconia in the dental crowns. He told me that no one is allergic to zirconia. I felt like he was blowing me off so bucked up and went to see another dentist. He said that he felt it was burning mouth syndrome. I don’t know what to think. Does this sound more like an allergy or the burning mouth syndrome?

Amy


Dear Amy,

An image of a woman resting in a dental chair with dental sedation to relax her

Thank you for reaching out. Let me say right off the bat that I do not think you are being silly. Dental anxiety is real. When you struggle with that and still go to the dentist, it takes a lot of courage. I would never minimize that.

Any advice I give will have to be general because we have not examined you. However, I think I can be of some help. While a zirconia allergy would be extraordinarily rare, I do not think it is wise to say that no one is allergic. The human body is vastly complex and each person is completely unique. The easiest way to find out if you have an zirconia allergy is to get tested for one.

As for burning mouth syndrome, that is a possibility as well. While there is no “official” cause for burning mouth syndrome, several dentists have seen a direct connection between patients with dental anxiety and the development of these symptoms.

Dealing with Dental Anxiety

As you’ve experienced in your own life, our teeth do not care if we are anxious. They’re going to continue to need care whether we are ready for it or not. I want you to have positive dental experiences that will help alleviate the anxiety you have endured all of these years.

My recommendation is that you only see dentists who offer dental sedation. These dentists are not only more compassionate toward patient with your fears, but they can also offer you a medication which will completely relax you. Not only can you have a pain-free/anxiety-free appointment, but if you use something like oral conscious sedation, you are very likely to sleep through your entire procedure.

Patients, who for years only went in for treatment when they had a dental emergency, have found that using dental sedation changed their lives. Not only were they able to get much needed work done without fear, but they were also able to completely get on top of their oral health care and no longer have to worry about their teeth falling apart.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.