Broken post on crown! what now?

[bargaingirl]

I am gutted after having a crown on my lower front tooth for over 20 years a mint humbug pulled it out and the post is broken! (i am not to blame the humbug was too sticky LOL)

Is there anyway the rest of the post can be removed form inside my tooth? I really lked my crown and wannted it re fitted with a new post but was told it couldn't be! does anyone know why?

i travel along way to see my dentist an hold them in high regard and dont ask questions, 'they know best' but im not sure about this one!!

Any advice?

[Rikki]

I would think if the have to remove the post from the tooth possibly by drilling it could weaken the structure making it more liable to crack or break after it has been refitted.

I'm sure a new one would be equally as good.

[bargaingirl]

thanks for your response Rikki! I am concerend that they can not fit a new crown if half the post remains in my tooth!

then what??

[Teerah]

Lower front teeth are particularly narrow and fine so it would be extremely difficult to remove a post without fracturing the remaining root and even if it didnt fracture there and then, it would probably be significantly weakened so as to make a fracture in the future highly likely. There is no way to reattach the crown without a new post being made. It depends on the width and length of post as to how difficult it would be to remove but I would prepare for a probable extraction tbh. What options have you been offered?

PS Why would you chew a humbug with your front teeth?

[Toothsmith]

Dentist might get lucky if he held an ultrasonic on it for long enough, but I would assume it's bu££ered, and take anything else as a bonus.

In all honesty, 20 yrs out of a post crowned lower incisor is pretty flippin' good.

It's time to have a conversation with your dentist about what can be done once the tooth has been removed I would think.

Maryland Bridges (stick on bridges) can be a good option down there, assuming conditions are good for one. Implants are the A1 way to go, but are pricey.

Avoid getting other lower incisors crowned, as they really don't like it - they are just too small to crown successfully over the long term. But I would have said that about the post crown 20 yrs ago!! Everyone is different!

[melanie frontage]

The same thing happened to me when the post broke on a crown on one of my upper front teeth and I had to have the remains of the tooth extracted. I then went down the route of having a Maryland bridge which worked well for a short time but then kept coming loose about every three months. This was very inconvenient as sometimes it would just pop out without warning!

I then moved to Canada and decided to have an implant done by a dentist here who has over 20 years experience in the field and I am delighted with the result. I can now use this implant just as if it was a natural tooth instead of having to avoid biting on that area.

[bargaingirl]

guys thanks for all your replies, the temporary crown came out after 2 days not surprisingly!

why was i eating mint humbug with my front teeth?? all i did was put it between my teeth to pull wrapper off and it was so sticky pulled crown out! If i could go back... a week i would! it was only cos i was away on hol dont even eat sweets normally!

How much is an implant?
I wasnt really given any options at time, just took xray to see if rest of post is still in there!

[melanie frontage]

guys thanks for all your replies, the temporary crown came out after 2 days not surprisingly!

why was i eating mint humbug with my front teeth?? all i did was put it between my teeth to pull wrapper off and it was so sticky pulled crown out! If i could go back... a week i would! it was only cos i was away on hol dont even eat sweets normally!

How much is an implant?
I wasnt really given any options at time, just took xray to see if rest of post is still in there!

Ohhh I do understand the misery of having teeth that you can't rely on to stay put!

Inplants are not cheap and not all dental surgeries perform them. Here in Canada I paid about $7000 but my case was very complicated as I had to have a bone graft due to substantial bone loss.

I guess the best thing for you would be to research which surgeries in your area do implant work and get some quotes. Also ask if any of them offer a free consultation to help you decide.

[Toothsmith]

The better places won't do free consultations.

The consultation is one of the most important parts of planning the treatment, and the tests and investigations to determin bone density and quality ar not cheap.

No surgeon could give those away.

Someone could make an educated guess for free, but then you shouldn't be surprised if the costs go up once the 'paid for' proper investigations are done.

If someone does the treatment without doing bone scans, then you're entering into a lottery.

[annie_d]

Off thread but i dont know how to start a new one...so please, ignore me or move me.

I have 3 crowns front, top. They are going black now so having new ones fitted. (£400 each.) Will need temprary ones for 3 weeks till the permanent are ready....How temporary are the temporary??? Will I be "safe"? My job involves a lot of face to face stuff...I NEED to have teeth. Thankyou.

[Toothsmith]

They're normally pretty reliable. Don't go opening beerbottles with them though, or even worse - biting fingernails!

[annie_d]

Thankyou for that. I appreciate it the reassurance.