Dental Question

[asdash]

Hope this is in the right place - apologies if not.

I last went to the dentist (NHS) 3 years ago when I was pregnant - had a couple of fillings done but the dentist seemed pleased with the condition of my teeth (not having been to a dentist for about 10 years prior to that) We have recently moved to an area where getting an NHS dentist is nearly impossible. So when I cracked a tooth I went to the local Private dentist, who put in a temporary filling and said I neeeded to register with the practice to get it refilled.

I then registered and had to pay $125 for a first consultation where he seemed to imply my teeth weren't great and I needed to have most of my silver fillings replaced due to 'cracked tooth syndrome' - was a bit unsure but he said he would put it in writing as a treatment plan for me to decide what work to have done. Anyway then had to go back for the temporary filling to be replaced (they wouldn't do it during the consultation) - after removing the filling he then told me the tooth was badly cracked and needed a ceroc crown - which would cost $430 and have to be done on another appointment. He then put a replaced the temp filling and charged $145. I can't help feeling I am being ripped off, he has already said one other tooth needs one of these crowns.

Is it worth me paying for a second opinion or do I just accept this is the cost of not going to the dentist regularly. Also am I right in thinking I won't be able to join any of the dental plans as I haven't attended a dentist regulary.

Thanks for reading this far - sorry about the dollar signs, can't seem to get my pound sign working but I do mean pounds !:D

Andrea

[Toothsmith]

If you go to another dentist you will almost certainly get a different opinion.

It always seems to amaze people like journalists when they send people to different dentists and get a range of opinions. In truth, however, there is rarely just one 'right' answer to a patients problems. Different dentists have different ways of solving the problems, and the thing a patient has to find, is a dentist who has the way of doing things that they like. The problem can be when dentists almost assume that their way IS the only way to do something, and don't really think of, or explain any alternatives.

To start with, the dentists fees seem reasonable to me - he's not really overpriced for what he's offering.

Cracked tooth syndrome can occur when old amalgam fillings have microscopically expanded over time and the stress has cracked, but not yet broken off, the remaining bits of tooth around the filling.

Is it a problem that needs to be fixed?

Well, if left, then the bits of tooth will one day just break off, but the question is, if you can get to the dentist pretty quickly (within a few days) it's unlikely to cause you much problem, and the tooth can either be repaired with more filling, or crowned then.

In rarer cases, the crack can extend into the nerve chamber of the tooth, in which case early crowning probably can save quite a few problems, but it's very hard to see if this has happened until you take out the old filling.

My personal position is that unless I am sure a problem is likely to happen, I leave things alone, and just keep an eye on teeth I suspect have something like this going on. I explain the options to the patient, and tell them to get in touch if any teeth start having symptoms such as sensitivity on biting, or to hot & cold.

If I strongly suspect something, I may well recommend changing a filling so that I can see underneath it.

I would ask this dentist if there were some way he could show you what's going on with the tooth (Does he have an intra-oral camera?), or just to try and explain to you what makes him suspect a cracked tooth, and why it needs crowning now rather than waiting and seeing if anything breaks off it in the future.

Hope this helps.

[asdash]

Thanks for the quick reply - yes he does have a camera and did show me some cracks in the tooth when he took the old filling out, I have already had one piece of tooth come off this particular tooth (which started this whole saga!) But wasn't sure if it was worth seeing how the tooth colouring filling goes or just going for the crown (along with the other one, replacing another couple of fillings and a bite guard - the total will run into 4 figures !)

Andrea

[Toothsmith]

I was wondering if he'd considered tooth grinding.

I'm glad the bite guard is there as well. It seems you have a very thorough dentist there.

White filling or crown has to be your choice, as it's your tooth that will be affected. It's how lucky you feel really!!!

[frivolous_fay]

Thanks for reading this far - sorry about the dollar signs, can't seem to get my pound sign working but I do mean pounds !:D

Try changing your keyboard settings to UK in control panel :)