Cost of Tooth Veneers

Toothsmith

In the lap of the gods really.

You might be lucky.

But it's unlkely to look as nice as the private one (hopefully) did.

Hopefully those MSErs who are thinking of veneers and think they are a lifelong once-only treatment will read this as well, and see that they are not maintenance free treatments, and really should be avoided unless really necessary.

Fleago

I agree, Toothsmith. I've got veneers on two teeth, which my dentist did in 1993 to cunningly disguise two slightly crooked teeth - they're very good actually, considering they weren't done privately. But at the time, my dentist was at pains to point out that they wouldn't last for ever, so I consider myself very fortunate they've been trouble free for so long.

I've now had Denplan cover for a long time, but I know that even with that I'll have to pay the Lab costs myself when I need new ones. But if I was skint, I'd sell my OH if I had to get them replaced.................:rotfl: But that's because I couldn't bear to go back to squinty teeth!

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

I had 2 veneers fitted on the NHS and had nothing but trouble (could just be me though)... the kept coming off, snapping and eventually 1 snapped taking part of my tooth with it :eek:

by then i had to go to a private dentist as we had moved and he fitted a bridge.. taking out the damaged tooth and using the tooth either side to secure it... it was £900:eek: ..but it has been a dream -touch wood . and he even showed me a spare..dropped it on the floor and stamped on it and it didn't do any damage... so we are keeping our fingers crossed it stays put:p

Trying_to_be_good

jules01 wrote: »

Just some advice needed really - I had a veneer fitted to a front tooth nearly 6 years ago privately for around £200 which cracked today.Obviously i have made another dentist appt which is tomorrow.It certainly needs replacing or reparing(If they can do that) as its painful if i touch it with my toothbrush as well as looking bad.So its not just cosmetic reasons for it to be replaced.

My question is i'm now an nhs payment exempt patient - The dental surgery does all my check ups,fillings etc on the nhs - Would the veneer be replaced on the nhs or would i have to pay?

Jules01 - how did you get on? One of my four NHS veneers has chipped. I've had them for 16 years, so they've lasted well. They NHS did them as they were to cover staining on my front top teeth from having an NHS medicine when I was about 6 months old. I'm wondering if the NHS will do them again? Did you have just one veneer (and it was that one that cracked) or was it part of a set?! Did you get a repair or replacement?

Sorry for all the questions!

Snuggles

Trying_to_be_good wrote: »

One of my four NHS veneers has chipped. I've had them for 16 years, so they've lasted well. They NHS did them as they were to cover staining on my front top teeth from having an NHS medicine when I was about 6 months old.

I have crowns on my top front teeth for exactly the same reason!! I've never heard of anyone else with it before. Just out of interest, do you happen to know which medicine might have caused this? I remember being told medicine was the cause, but I was never told what.

It was a major turning point in my life when I finally got my crowns fitted at age 16, up until then I'd had a miserable time being teased for having "dirty" teeth. It took me a long time to break the habit of instantly covering my mouth with my hand when I laughed. I've had mine for 18 years now, and had no problems at all, funnily enough I've just been to the dentist today, and am going to join Denplan so that I know the cost will be covered when they do need replacing.

Toothsmith

The medicine was probably tetracycline.

An antibiotic.

It is usually avoided in anyone under 5 for reasons of tooth discolouration (It actually stains the teeth whist they are forming in the gum).

There are some quite serious conditions for which only tetracyclines will do though (Or at least that was the case 20 yrs ago) One of which is whooping cough.

Snuggles

Toothsmith wrote: »

The medicine was probably tetracycline.

An antibiotic.

It is usually avoided in anyone under 5 for reasons of tooth discolouration (It actually stains the teeth whist they are forming in the gum).

There are some quite serious conditions for which only tetracyclines will do though (Or at least that was the case 20 yrs ago) One of which is whooping cough.

Thanks for that! I'll have to ask my mum, I know I wasn't vaccinated against whooping cough for some reason.

Having read some of your other posts I believe you are a dentist? If you don't mind me asking I was wondering if there is an average life span for crowns? Is it inevitable they will crack or chip at some point? I saw a dentist today for the first time in a couple of years (was trying to find an NHS dentist but have finally resigned myself to going private) and she said they look fine and I was doing well to have had them for 18 years. Do they inevitably deteriorate, or is it possible they could last for years to come?

Toothsmith

Snuggles wrote: »

I was wondering if there is an average life span for crowns? Is it inevitable they will crack or chip at some point? I saw a dentist today for the first time in a couple of years (was trying to find an NHS dentist but have finally resigned myself to going private) and she said they look fine and I was doing well to have had them for 18 years. Do they inevitably deteriorate, or is it possible they could last for years to come?

Bit hard to answer - sort of 'how long is a bit of string' type question.

The often quoted average is 10-15 yrs. It will depend an awful lot though on the conditions in different peoples mouths, which is hugely variable.

Strong/gentle bite, high/low sugar intake, good/bad oral hygine, nail biting, gum chewing, smoking, bone knawing (I have a patient who loves getting every bit of meat off her chops! It plays havoc!!) etc etc.

I had a patient in yesterday with a 39yr old porcelain crown on her front tooth. Still looks fine! I also have a patient who has had 2 crowns in 2 years on the same tooth (first one was probably a casting error in the porcelain, not sure why it went again - but I replaced it free. I'm hoping it'll be fine now, as I can't think of any reason I've overlooked).

The thing with crowns is that they generally look fine, right up until the day they fall into pieces!!

Snuggles

Toothsmith wrote: »

Bit hard to answer - sort of 'how long is a bit of string' type question.

The often quoted average is 10-15 yrs. It will depend an awful lot though on the conditions in different peoples mouths, which is hugely variable.

Strong/gentle bite, high/low sugar intake, good/bad oral hygine, nail biting, gum chewing, smoking, bone knawing (I have a patient who loves getting every bit of meat off her chops! It plays havoc!!) etc etc.

I had a patient in yesterday with a 39yr old porcelain crown on her front tooth. Still looks fine! I also have a patient who has had 2 crowns in 2 years on the same tooth (first one was probably a casting error in the porcelain, not sure why it went again - but I replaced it free. I'm hoping it'll be fine now, as I can't think of any reason I've overlooked).

The thing with crowns is that they generally look fine, right up until the day they fall into pieces!!

That's what worries me - I have dreams about them suddenly crumbling into my mouth! :eek:

Many thanks for the info. I must admit ever since I had them done, I have never used my front teeth to bite into things (I think I must initially have worried about them falling off or something, and now it's just a habit), I always use the teeth either side to bite. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, but maybe it's helped to keep them in good condition

nicky29

Hi, I havent been to the dentist in years and i have a missing hole in my front molar next to my filling which has taken part of the front of the tooth away.
Yesterday i started having real toochache and couldnt sleep last night from the throbbing. I looked in the mirror and my jaw was completely swollen! I went to the emergency dental clinic at the local hospital this morning and they took an xray and confirmed i had deep decay from the hole in my tooth which was causing an abcess and swelling. I had an abcess before but this went away.
They told me to come back next week after prescribing anti biotics. He said they might treat it or extract it! Is this something i will have to pay for at the hospital clinic? I didnt think to ask at the time as i was in shock about someone actually looking at my teeth for the first time in years!
I have finally faced my fears though after 10 years (shocking i know) and have booked an appointment with a local NHS dentist in 3 weeks to sort out my other problems! The other problem i have is a chipped veneer on my front tooth (i had them done 14 years ago when i was 15 - the others have fallen off a long time ago)
I know im unable to get new veneers on the NHS but as my front tooth has half veneer half old tooth (unsightly) can i get the veneer removed and start again? How much would this cost privately (im assuming no NHS dentist would do this) Sorry for all the questions! Thanks!