Advice about having a crown on a tooth

Reported

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

I had a crown fitted a year or so ago, cost £300+. The dentist couldn’t replace the filling anymore.

Seeing as NHS dentists are like gold dust in our county, I was keen to do anything I could while still covered by them. Every visit I think he will inform us that he is now only doing private work, as many others have swapped over.

?

Happy with the crown so far also.

The cost of dental treatment, even on the NHS, is a lot. Some of us would probably struggle to find £300 or so upfront to pay a dentist.

Auntieflo

I had several rear crowns, 47 years ago. (Gold ones by the way).

I was pregnant with our youngest son, and did not have to pay anything.

They are doing well, according to the dentist last Monday, so I think I have been extremely lucky

What good timing, Auntieflo!

I had veneers on my top two front teeth 35 years ago - I was warned that they weren't guaranteed to last more than a year, so I've been lucky too. They cost me, if I remember rightly, about £200 each. I think I'd be looking at a couple of thousand now.

Every time I go for a check up I worry, no doubt illogically, about them dislodging my precious veneers. I saw a different dentist earlier this week and felt the need to point out that I had them - I'm sure he could see that for himself.

As mentioned before Ive now had the root removed after tooth next to front tooth shattered. I had impressions taken two week before the root extraction and had root removed and new front tooth on a bridge fitted immediately at same appointment. This was just last week. I’m very pleased.

I had several rear crowns, 47 years ago. (Gold ones by the way).

I was pregnant with our youngest son, and did not have to pay anything.

They are doing well, according to the dentist last Monday, so I think I have been extremely lucky

All my top teeth are crowned and I’m eternally grateful (and financially obligated) to my dentist!

I have broken the tooth beside the front one. Dentist has patched it up and quoted an enormous amount and said how awkward it will be to fix if the patch up comes out. I think if that happens I might just leave the space and be careful not to smile.

I have a crown too by the way. It's about 15 I think. No problems with it so far.

I think that's a great idea. You can tell her the story and no doubt she will be more helpful and give you time yo think.

I'd ask her the best/worst outcomes of doing it and of not doing it and I would also ask if it is something that could safely wait.
Ask to be shown on the X-ray too.

I hope you have a better experience this time.

Thank you everyone for your advice. I have made an appointment with another dentist in the same practice. A lady this time. I have yet to see her as I've been unwell. I will see what her advice is. The tooth in question as been this way for at least 14+ years I've had no problems with it at all.

I had crowns fitted 40 + years ago and I hope they will "see me out"!

The last time I visited my dentist he told me on average a crown will last for 10 years so I have done rather well. Mine are gold and at the rear of my mouth.

Thank you, Doodledog.

They remove and replace the filling at the first appointment and take an impression which they send to a lab for the crown to be made, and give you a temporary one. A couple of weeks later you go back and they remove the temp one and fit the new one. It took two hour long appointments to do mine.

I am interested in understanding the process involved. Part of a molar broke away and I have been given the options of Wait and see( do nothing now) or a filling, or a crown. At the moment I have gone for Wait and see. What does a crown involve?

A crown now seems the best option. If your tooth shatters you’ll be facing much more extensive, and much more expensive treatment.

I agree with Oopsadaisy try a second opinion as you don't seem happy with your dentist. I have had several crowns over the years with root canal treatment etc. My last bill was almost 2000 euros so your price seems reasonable. Good luck.

Can you do that - 2nd opinion I mean?
I have had numerous crowns, one is on a post and I've had root fillings and also nerves removed. Root fillings are less traumatic than they used to me - no real pain apart from the strain of having to have your mouth open for so long.
I think your dentist is looking at the cosmetic appearance of your tooth, so if you can get another opinion I would go for it.
There doesn't seem any point in interfering with a tooth for no real reason, does there?

My last crown was £500 so yours sounds cheap to me. If this is a front tooth presumably you want to keep it, so I'd go with a crown. If it came out you'd have to have a bridge or an implant which would be a lot more expensive, or have a gap or a denture.

I had veneers fitted to my front teeth as they were mostly fillings and a crown in another tooth because it split in half.
Not sure if the cost of veneers would be lees or more than crowns. Very happy with the outcome on all of them.

But it sounds as though you are unhappy with your Dentist anyway, so why not go to another one for a second opinion?

I’ve had at least 4 crowns over the years. The cost quoted to you is very reasonable even though it is still huge amount. I’m in similar situation with a front took which spontaneously shattered and fell out on Friday without any warning - metal fatigue I think. Not enough left of tooth for a crown so I have to have a root extraction in two weeks time and a bridge fitted at the same time. I have a very uncomfortable temp infill currently. I pay a monthly fee to Denplan which I hope will cover cost. No mention of any payment required. Not looking forward to removal of root - the last time for a double shattered back tooth I went to hospital and had it done. Excellent treatment though.

I have had crowns including a root filled crown i.e. with the nerve removed. I think dental treatment simply is expensive no matter what you have done.

To find the dentist I am happy with I asked a local friend who had lived in the area longer than I. Their premises are awkward as it's an antique house but they are efficient and helpful.

I have several crowns and have recently had one very old one replaced. If I remember correctly, it was originally done nearly 40years ago. My dentist has done a beautiful job, the price you mention would be right. However the separate issue for you is one of trust and the way you feel about communication between you and your dentist and that needs to be addressed. It's increasingly difficult to get on the list of any NHS dentist so my advice would be to contact the dental practice and explain how you felt after the appointment. I'm sure they will appreciate the feedback.

I've just had the same experience, but mine cost £650 (no NHS dentist near me). I had had no problems with the tooth, but it was root filled ages ago and I could see on the X ray that there was a lot more filling than tooth. The dentist pointed out that there was a good chance that the tooth would shatter after all this time. The crown will protect it from that, and looks a lot better than a metal filled tooth, or than a denture or whatever I'd have to have if the tooth needed to be extracted. If your tooth might give out, what could you have to replace it? The chances are that most alternatives would be equally or more costly, and might not look as good, but your dentist should have talked you through the options.

If you aren't happy with the way you were treated, can you go to a different dentist? That you should be treated with respect goes without saying.