Joint crown

Last year I had pain in upper tooth #6 and #7 (both side).Doctor suggested RCT on both side in tooth #6.And then he put a ceramic crown.

Even after RCT, it used to pain after 10 to 15 days. I noticed that after eating any fibrous or hard food like non-veg, it used to start paining. I consulted the doctor & he said that food particles are getting struck between tooth #6 and #7 and this is causing infection after few days. He suggested using floss to clean.

But even after cleaning with floss, problem remains.


Okay, just to make things clearer here, by 'tooth #6 and #7 on both side', do you mean your first and second molar or, your canine and second incisor? Do you have ceramic crowns on both #6 now?

Anyway, the fact that you still have pain after RCT on both your upper canines and only when you bite down on hard/fibrous foods, leads me to believe you might have a fractured/cracked tooth root (vertical root fracture). Bite on a Q-tip (or a toothpick) gently at different points on your tooth and check if you can elicit pain. Try it on all four teeth (6 and 7 on both sides) and if any of them turn out positive, let your current dentist know.

Now doctor is saying to put a joint crown on tooth #6 and #7 so that food doesn’t go in between.
I have consulted 3 other doctors who said that problem is because of wisdom tooth and suggested me to get it removed from both side (upper).

But the one treating me said not to remove wisdom tooth and putting a joint crown would solve the problem.
Now I am confused. If I go for joint crown, then it would require cutting tooth #7. And what if doesn’t solve the problem….?
Any suggestion? Thanks in advance.

A bridge (joint crown) is probably what you meant, and like you, I certainly agree that there is absolutely no reason for you to cut down an otherwise healthy natural tooth #7. Also, bridges are supposed to replace a missing tooth. Do you have one? Moreover, I'm confused as to how your dentist thinks a bridge would help in relieving pain and lodging of food particles.

As to your wisdom teeth getting extracted, are they impacted? Do they seem to have a direct influence on #6 and #7 on both sides?

I'm sure this dentist-shopping must be a frustrating experience but I wish you could get an endodontist to look into your case and see how that goes. Good luck!

Thanks for your reply.

By tooth #6 an #7 I meant first and second Molar. I have ceramic crown on both side on #6(1st molar). And 2nd molar doesn’t have any problem.
Doctor is suggesting to remove the existing crown of 1st molar and put a joint crown on 1st and 2nd molar.

I tried your suggestion of biting with toothpick on both side and I don’t feel any pain.

My wisdom tooth on both side is directed towards 2nd molar’s root.
Can this cause any problem to 2nd molar…?

Is it possible that 2nd molar moves slightly when I bite any fibrous food which tires to go in between 1st and 2nd molar…?

And this movement is causing the pain….?

Thanks for your reply.

By tooth #6 an #7 I meant first and second Molar. I have ceramic crown on both side on #6(1st molar). And 2nd molar doesn’t have any problem.
Doctor is suggesting to remove the existing crown of 1st molar and put a joint crown on 1st and 2nd molar.

I tried your suggestion of biting with toothpick on both side and I don’t feel any pain.

My wisdom tooth on both side is directed towards 2nd molar’s root.
Can this cause any problem to 2nd molar…?



Well, I think we can definitely rule out a cracked tooth and concentrate more on your impacted upper wisdom teeth. It sounds like you have food impaction issues and this could likely progress into pericoronitis. I'm not sure how a 'joint crown' advised by your dentist would solve any of this.

If three other dentists recommend you get your upper wisdom teeth extracted because of it being impacted (, I would probably find some truth in them and heed to their advice than cut down your healthy second molar for a 'joint crown'. I'd suggest you visit an oral surgeon/endodontist if you can.

Is it possible that 2nd molar moves slightly when I bite any fibrous food which tires to go in between 1st and 2nd molar…?

And this movement is causing the pain….?


Well, that's possible if you have some amount of gap between this crown and your second molar. I'm thinking you could also be fitted with a bad crown, that is, one that is too light or has no contact with the adjacent teeth.