Canada | Told my crown would be 100% covered, but after treatment I was told to pay. Now I’ve had 10+ bite adjustments and I’m developing TMJ symptoms. Looking for advice.
Earlier this year, I went to my dental clinic for a routine cleaning, where they found that one of my existing crowns had fractured.
The clinic told me they had checked with the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and that a new crown would be 100% covered. Before agreeing to proceed, I specifically asked the front desk again whether the treatment would be fully covered, and they confirmed that it would.
Based on that information, I agreed to have the crown made.
However, after the crown was completed and cemented, the clinic informed me that my CDCP claim had been denied and that I would have to pay the full cost myself.
After spending hours on the phone with CDCP, I eventually learned that the real issue was an error on Box 45 of a T4 from one of my previous part-time employers. Because of that mistake, I was incorrectly shown as having employer dental coverage and my CDCP eligibility was cancelled.
As far as I know, the clinic started treatment before my coverage had actually been finalized.
Unfortunately, the financial issue isn’t even my biggest concern anymore.
The new crown immediately felt too high. The dentist adjusted it extensively on the day it was placed, but my bite still felt very wrong. I was told to “give it some time.”
Over the past two months, I’ve returned for more than 10 occlusal adjustments, but things have gradually become worse rather than better.
My current symptoms include:
I can open my mouth normally (about three finger widths).
My opening path is generally straight.
Occasionally I hear a faint grinding/sand-like sound from my right TMJ.
Almost every time I close my mouth, my jaw deviates to one side before returning to the center.
My bite feels unstable, I often don’t know where my jaw should naturally rest, and sometimes my jaw muscles become sore. At times my teeth don’t seem to fit together properly.
I’m now worried that the poorly fitting crown may have altered my bite enough to cause muscle or TMJ problems.
I have two questions:
1. Am I responsible for paying for this crown?
The clinic repeatedly told me it would be fully covered before treatment started. Can they still require me to pay after the treatment has already been completed? Has anyone dealt with a similar situation in Canada?
2. What should I do about the bite/TMJ issue?
After more than 10 bite adjustments over two months, my symptoms are getting worse instead of better.
Would it be better to see a prosthodontist, an orofacial pain/TMJ specialist, or another type of specialist?
If anyone has experienced something similar—especially after a crown changed your bite—I would really appreciate hearing what happened, whether you recovered, and what ultimately helped.
Thank you very much.