I had 2 upper,front.middle crowns replaced in February. My gums became swollen and was advised by my prosthodontist to continue rinsing with salt water. I have had swollen gum problems since then and the roof of my mouth became swollen about 3 months ago. I have been back to the Prosthodontist many, many times. He denies seeing any swelling!! and tells me to keep rinsing with salt water. I saw his associate one time and she placed me on Chlorhexadine rinse. I was put on 2 antibiotics for a stomach infection in May by my GI doctor. I developed a yeast infection and placed on Diflucan. The yeast infection was in my mouth and GI tract. I am worried that I may have a yeast infection in my gums. Anyway, the prosthodontist did replace the crowns about 6 weeks ago. He had used metal backed crowns, and at my insistence about my white metal allergy, he agreed to do ceramic crowns. The swelling in my gums and the roof of my mouth has not changed. I saw a general dentist who put me on Clindomycin, did an X-ray , and felt there was a "pocket" of infection in my gums between the 2 crowns. I saw a 2nd general dentist today, who also said that he did not see any swelling!! I know what I feel in my mouth! If only someone would say they see the swelling. He referred me to see an oral surgeon re. a possible cyst between my teeth in the gum. I keep thinking that the swelling is due to poorly fitting crowns. These new crowns fit totally different than the 1st crowns. The 1st crowns made the swelling also, and did not fit well. The border of my gum line has been exposed all this time, (the gums were cut to fit the crowns.) It has been 6 months with burning pain and swelling. I am worn out from the ordeal. I will see the oral surgeon as soon as possible. Can gums and the roof of the mouth swelling be associated with poorly fitting crowns? Or is it infection?, or both?

Hi susie,

Ill fitting crowns, allergies to the metals and/or the crown material, allergies to the medicated cord that some dentists use when preparing the teeth for the crowns, plaque buildup,...... are some of the things that can cause chronic irritation and inflammation with the gums. You state you have swelling but the dentists disagree with that. Do you mean inflammation and puffiness? Were the gums cut or lasered along the margin of the crowns? Is the gum tissue red.... does it bleed easily? Do you have periodontal disease? Are these teeth root canaled or have they had apicoectomies?

Bryanna