Gingivitis in interdental space between UL molar 1 and 2. UL molar 2 was crowned. What do?

[ToothPatient]

It's the gum portion between and on the mesial margin of the UL second molar, and distal margin of UL first molar.

Ever since the crown was placed, that area was sensitive but when I flossed, the irritation would ease.

I had a sixth month review with the endo that did the root canal on the UL 2nd molar, who noted the presence of gingivitis and blood on the floss.

I had actually not been flossing all the way to the gumline to avoid making it tender, but now that I am and every time I hit the gums with the floss between ULM1 and ULM2, very sensitive, and almost reliably bleeds.

Rinsing with Corsodyl and flossing twice daily but the issue remains (been doing this for about a week).

The main problem as I see it is, the crown is too tight to the ULM2 to actually get an interdental brush in there, even the smallest ones.
Presumably that would take care of any plaque more effectively.

Or would floss be equally capable as an interdental brush, and I should just maintain my current routine and hope for improvement?

 

[ToothPatient]

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This is my trying to get a silicone pick in between ULM1 and ULM2.

Don't know how that small nick got above ULM1.

As you can see, it stops shy of half way in to the interdental space, and it's very sensitive there.

If this persists (the plaque and gingivitis/bleeding), could that justify requesting a replacement crown, that allows an interdental brush to get into that space?

 

[MattKW]

Video not working. Or post some pics.

 

[ToothPatient]

Don't know if this provides a clear view of the gums or gingivitis.

But obviously shows a small diameter silicone pick having difficulty accessing the interdental space.

I can still get floss in of course, but the gum tissue around the crown remains sensitive and bleeds.

 

[ToothPatient]

This shot is from the palatal side, the crown on the left and molar 1 in front of it.

Does that gum look correct, or damaged?

 

[ToothPatient]

https://i.imgflip.com/az4ric.gif

Here you can see when the dental pick goes in from the buccal side, it actually presses the palatal gum tissue in.

It doesn't go smoothly through the inter dental space.

Does that mean using picks and brush are basically off the table with this area?

 

[ToothPatient]

I'm reading of this issue in molar teeth where dental concavities are present.

Flossing alone will miss these in the interdental space as they only clean across the flat surface, where interdental brushes clean then out.

If plaque in the concavity is missed, it could cause gingivitis.

That concerns me as I can't get brushes in between this space.

This is the problematic interdental area.

 

[ToothPatient]

I had read a prosthodontist can actually adjust the crown despite being cemented on the proximal surface, so that the interdental brush can be made to fit?

Is that a routine thing?

That would be a great solution instead of having to replace the crown again.