Gransnet forums

Health

Dental crown removal

(43 Posts)
Sheena Mon 31-Jul-17 21:30:17

Has anyone had one removed and a new one put in? I went to the dentist last week and she said there is the tiniest chip in my crown and that it needs to come out , a temporary one put in for a couple of weeks and then the new replacement. I must admit I have been getting twinges there and considering this crown was put in way back in the 80s it's not surprising I guess that it's getting a bit worn. However..... I am a total baby as far as the dentist is concerned ! I go for my regular 6 month check ups, but the minute something needs to be done I turn to jelly. The whole procedure freaks me out, and the dentist (bless her !! ) has said to me "don't worry about it " ... HA !! Has anyone had one taken out ? Is it as ghastly as I am fearing?

rosesarered Mon 31-Jul-17 21:35:13

Yes, I have had two crowns removed and replaced ( and will need it doing again soon) it's a while ago, but don't remember it being painful or difficult at all.
Courage mon brave! ?

Ana Mon 31-Jul-17 21:42:36

No, it's not at all painful. It's only the crown that's being removed, not the post it sits on! You'll be fine...

Chewbacca Mon 31-Jul-17 21:56:58

I've got this very thing to look forward to in September and I'm dreading it. Like you, my crowns were put in in the 80s and one is now falling apart. I'm ashamed to say that I blub just sitting in the waiting room so dread actually having anything done. blush Does it take lingerie to pull the old one off? What happens if some of the tooth gets broken and they can't afix a new crown? See! I'm panicking already.

Sheena Mon 31-Jul-17 22:02:49

Oh crumbs Chewbacca... you and me both !

Chewbacca Mon 31-Jul-17 22:08:30

grin just read "does it take lingerie to pull the old one off"! Obviously, I meant *long* grin I have enough problems at the dentist without pulling off lingerie,

Auntieflo Mon 31-Jul-17 22:10:03

I have never had a crown removed, so cannot offer any advice and/or sympathy, but on a much lighter note, I had four gold crowns put in when I was pregnant, back in the 60's. As far as I know they are wearing well, and I promised my DD that she could have them when I no longer need them. (Gold).grin

cornergran Mon 31-Jul-17 22:16:58

My dentist just sort of flicked off the old crown, don't know how but it took seconds. Unless I had very substandard glue you won't know it is happening. Thinking about it I removed one neatly myself once with a toffee hmm.

Eglantine19 Mon 31-Jul-17 22:17:37

No it doesn't take long, about five ten seconds. The dentist levers it off so easily it makes you wonder how it stayed on!

Deedaa Mon 31-Jul-17 22:19:17

I've had some that have been replaced twice. By the second time the stumps of the teeth were getting a bit sensitive but if it's the first time you're having them replaced it should be fine, and I'm as big a coward as anyone!

Auntieflo when we left school my friend went to work for Unilever developing toothpastes. They used to get bags of extracted teeth from dentists to experiment on. They used to save all the gold fillings they came across and she had her wedding ring made out of them.

Eglantine19 Mon 31-Jul-17 22:35:58

Oh yuck!

silverlining48 Mon 31-Jul-17 22:47:10

I always take a diazepam prior to dentist appointments, if its a crown, i take 3! They work a treat for a baby like me. Can recommend.

Jalima1108 Mon 31-Jul-17 23:13:50

I had one done years ago and it fell out very soon afterwards. As we had moved I had to find a new dentist who apparently put the new one in in such a way that I will have to have it removed at the dental hospital if there is a problem with it (possible start of an abscess underneath which yet another dentist is monitoring).

But don't worry, a normal crown should be no problem at all.

Sheena Tue 01-Aug-17 08:17:30

Thanks everyone ! Most of your posts are reassuring grin. Since being told it nee to come out.... no more twinges !! Do I really need it out? I guess "yes" is the answer as the dentist explained , now there is a minute void there, decay can start so the longer I leave it,the worse it will get. She said she will drill it out shock . but will "numb me up" ... well me and the drill..... and needles, well not a good mix. I'm sure lots of you will agree. I just wish I was braver . For more than 30 years it has given me no bother, and I'm worried that a new one won't be right, either won't fit right or give me toothache.

I haven't got any diazepam Silverlining .. but do try to do the relaxation and mindfulness beforehand, trouble is the minute I'm at the surgery all that goes out the window .

I hope mine comes off as easy as your Eglantine !

Chewbacca Tue 01-Aug-17 08:41:43

Drill it out? But I thought they just pulled them off? I've no chance of going through with this Sheena, you're braver than me.

kittylester Tue 01-Aug-17 08:47:56

I'm surprised the dentists hadn't removed the gold first deedaa My charm bracelet has a polished gold crown on it. it has never been used, I hasten to add, it was one the lab got wrong.grin

Sheena Tue 01-Aug-17 08:50:56

To be honest Chewbacca I "googled" it , and it looks like they just drill a sort of cross on the top of the crown and then it peels off. but I thought there was a load of metal underneath the veneer, so goodness knows how that comes off.

I would much rather not go, but the worry of any decay going on underneath worries me and the thought of an abscess like Jalima mentioned just about floors me (can't take any antibiotics) . the whole think makes me feel ill with fear (I'm a anxious old bird at the best of times) and just a normal trip to the dentist freaks me. And it's not just the thing coming out ! I then have a "temporary" for two weeks, then that's got to come out and then the new one in. Oh God hmm .

But Chewbacca..if I can do it then so can you .... we can do this together flowers

Sparklefizz Tue 01-Aug-17 10:29:57

Apparently Madonna takes 2 Codeine before having her legs waxed. If you are worried, take 2 before your appointment and you will feel nothing, even if there is something to feel. I have had a crown replaced and it was easy-peasy. I can't take Codeine but do take 2 Paracetamols before seeing the hygienist as all my teeth have become hypersensitive around the gums nowadays.

Sheena Tue 01-Aug-17 11:00:33

Thanks Sparklefizz .. I worry (as I do a lot ! ) that if I took anything, would it react with the injections for numbing? Many years ago I was at another dentist, and an ambulance was called for a lady as she had taken something to calm her nerves (we weren't told what) and she had reacted badly to the injection. These things kind of stick in your mind blush

Jalima1108 Tue 01-Aug-17 11:09:16

Apparently my post was screwed in rather than just pushed in (done 20 years ago!) so that is why the dentist would send me to the dental hospital if it needs to be changed.
Good luck Sheena

Tizliz Tue 01-Aug-17 11:09:52

It's the waiting in the waiting room that does me in. Why can't the dentist be on time? I always have the first appointment but still have to wait and I get so tempted to say sorry, can't wait any longer, bye and make a run for it ?

TriciaF Tue 01-Aug-17 12:02:38

Tizliz - me too. The last time I went the waiting room was packed, (there are 3 dentists) and after nearly 2 hours I thought they had forgotten about me. So in the end I asserted myself and complained shock and I was next in.

Sheena Tue 01-Aug-17 12:06:48

Two hours shock ?? omg Tricia how did you manage? I hate it if I have to wait 10 minutes ! Heart racing, sweaty hands, shaky legs etc etc. Funny though I am absolutely fine with the hygienist ... no problem. But the Dentist uuurrrgggghhhh !

TriciaF Tue 01-Aug-17 16:13:15

Thanks, Sheena. But I'm one of those lucky people who isn't afraid of dentists. But I don't like toothache! I prefer to suffer a short time in the dentist's chair, just to get rid of it.

Chewbacca Tue 01-Aug-17 17:48:04

My dentist knows that if he left me sitting in the waiting room for more than 5 minutes, I'll leg it. Plus, he doesn't want me sitting bawling my eyes out and frightening the children. blush
22 hours to go......