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Questions about Dental crowns
Comments
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`just a quick message - smoking doesnt cause tooth decay. It causes staining but most importantly it makes gum disease much worse and will cause someone to develop it when they wouldnt normally get it. Also it masks the damage being caused until it is quite far along. Thats why all the pretty stuff is likely to fail - because your tooth will ultimately fall out whilst the lack of gum/bone support will make it look most unsightly along the way0
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`just a quick message - smoking doesnt cause tooth decay. It causes staining but most importantly it makes gum disease much worse and will cause someone to develop it when they wouldnt normally get it. Also it masks the damage being caused until it is quite far along. Thats why all the pretty stuff is likely to fail - because your tooth will ultimately fall out whilst the lack of gum/bone support will make it look most unsightly along the way
I managed to stop smoking a year ago after smoking for 30 years.
Whilst I was smoking, I'd noticed that my gums were receding, very sore in places and would frequently bleed profusely if I pressed my tongue hard against them. However, recently they've started to grow back, and have never looked healthier. They don't bleed any more either, even when I'm cleaning them.0 -
Rather like MLSP I have just visited a new NHS dentist. Excellent detailed diagnosis, worn teeth etc. three questions arose about NHS treatment though.
I lost a large filling that replaced the inside of UL5 which had split off. This cant be replaced by amalgam because of the shape. He told me that this cannot be white filled on the NHS and will therefore need a crown or a private white filling. Wouldn't this filling be covered by the NHS?
He also tells me that the discolouration on the front of my bottom teeth would not be cleaned by an NHS - part of the check up - clean as this classes as staining and would therefore need a private hygenist clean. He wants be to book an hour hygenist clean - that seems a long time.
I also have a front tooth broken when I was 11 and post crowned, which has come off(recorowned about 5 years ago) . I've been told that the root/remaining tooth is beyond recrowning and an extraction followed by implant or denture is the only option. I accept that implants are still not available on the NHS but would the extraction and crown still be covered if I pay for the implant and abutment? The crown has to match a previous NHS crown (gold + porcelain) which was fitted as one of a pair as both front teeth were broken.
Thanks for any comments. Especially thanks to Toothsmith for your valuable contributions in previous posts which are so informative.
Nick.0 -
The extraction would be done on the NHS.
The 'crown' that fits on top of an implant abutment is not the same as a crown on a tooth. It's a lot more complex, and is all part of the 'implant' process - so no, that wouldn't be available on the NHS.
An hour for a hygienist appt does seem quite a long time just to clean off some superficial staining for 'cosmetic' reasons. If there was any gum disease going on, and you 'needed' a good clean for that reason, then it would be available on the NHS.
The dentist here seems to have been very thorough, and has given you the options in the right way.
If the clean is just 'cosmetic' it shouldn't matter at all if you decide not to have it. I think the trick here is to get the dentist to admit you 'need' it!How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0 -
Just to add to toothsmiths post,
re your options of NHS crown or Private white filling.
When the current system was brought in it removed the list of things that were allowed on the NHS. However is was written into the rules that a dentist didn't have to provide anything under the new arrangement that wasn't available under the old one. Your case is a good example.
The NHS didn't provide large tooth coloured fillings at the back and therefore still dont. If your dentist was feeling generous the NHS would happily let him provide one, they just wouldn't fund it any differently which would lead to him being in a situation where it would be financially better for him to hand you a note out of his wallet and tell you to go away
Tooth coloured fillings have very different properties to Amalgam and you can achieve things with them that you cant with Amalgam, however the reverse is also true.
It does sound like you have been given your options fairly with regard to this.0 -
Thanks so much to both toothsmith and jugglebug. I did hope that this dentist was being reasonably up front. He seemed like a really nice guy. Most of the new NHS dentists seem so reluctant to give you any time unless you opt for private treatment.0
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Hi
Was wondering if anyone could help please, I went to the dentist earlier today and when I was there a filling from one of the root canals that I had gotten done a few years back came off - I didn't get it crowned. I think the tooth in question is a pre-molar. (I know I should have gotten it crowned in the first place!!)
Now the dentist is saying that he wants to re-do the root canal (he has said that there is nothing wrong with it so I am not sure why he wants to fix something that isn't broken?) put a post, fill and then crown it. He said I could get it done on NHS but this will be a silver / gold cap as I can't get white ones on NHS (I thought front teeth and pre-molars were tooth coloured on NHS). Is it true that I won't get white one on NHS? He has quoted me £400 to do the white one privately. Is this a reasonable price?
I am also not sure if he is a good dentist, he did a root canal and a crown 6 months ago which hurts on and off. He said it takes time for root canals to settle but I have had a couple of root canals and they have never hurt!
Thanks for your help!!£365 in 365 days challenge: £730 / £1500 -
I had a root canal on one of my front teeth about 15 years old. Over the past few years it had started to discolour any my dentist (NHS) advised that I have a Crown.
I was lucky as he did my Crown just after my Son was born, so I was within the 'free dental treatment if you are pregnant and up to the baby's 1st birthday' category. My Crown was done free on the NHS and it is White. If I would have had to pay it would have cost between £200-300, so your quote of £400 sounds expensive.
Hope this helps xx0 -
Thanks SD
When was the crowning done? Was it done on NHS or private?
Thanks once again!£365 in 365 days challenge: £730 / £1500 -
It's only what's clinically necessary that's available on the nhs. Some dentists may do a White crown on a premolar but in general a metal crown will be what most will provide.
Some dentists will be unhappy to put a crown on a rootfilled tooth if they haven't done the rootfilling themselves as it can be difficult to redo if problems blow up once a post and crown are fitted . Opinions vary but if a rootfilling looks less than perfect many will choose to redo it before crowning.
There are many types of crown and materials and costs will vary from £250 to £1000 plus the cost of the post.0
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