One of my front teeth is slightly further back and is now occasionally making contact with the opposite lower tooth during speech. Please help!

[RachelB36]

Nearly a month ago, I accidentally bit down quite hard on a fork. At the time, I didn’t notice anything serious, just some odd sensations in my front teeth during the first week. I saw a dentist who took an X-ray but couldn’t find any issues, and suggested it was likely a bruised tooth or some ligament inflammation.

After about a week, one of my right front teeth (circled) started to feel very noticeable in my mouth. It now seems to occasionally catch on my lower tooth when speaking with sounds where my teeth need to touch. It's incredibly uncomfortable and sends a weird feeling through my body. Like a physical cringe.

I’ve also been experiencing some referred pain towards my right ear, including popping and aching (similar to TMJ symptoms), as well as tingling around the tooth and into my upper right lip. I was recently fitted for a mouth guard to help with jaw discomfort and have been wearing it at night, which has helped but hasn’t resolved the tooth-contact issue.

I saw a second dentist who believes the tooth hasn’t moved and suggested shaving down the opposing lower tooth to stop it from catching. However, I’m quite hesitant about having any enamel removed, especially since I don’t fully understand why the tooth suddenly feels like it’s catching if it hasn’t shifted.

When I asked about Invisalign, the dentist said it might be something to consider later if the issue continues. I just want it to stop.... I’d really appreciate any advice or suggestions.

 

[Dr M]

It might not be related to the initial trauma at all. It might just have become more noticeable, since you were more focused on the area after the initial accident. It sounds like you do have some grinding issues. This could sometimes lead to pain on some teeth. It is important to note that your teeth move throughout your life, even if it is only a fraction of a millimeter, and this could lead to abnormal contact eventually on the tooth in question.
I would suggest that you perhaps get an orthodontic consult. They can evaluate your entire bite and if you have crowding or other malpositions, suggest treatment options in order to achieve a more harmonious bite overall.
If you have some x-rays that you could share or some photos, we could give some more advice.