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Questions about Dental crowns
Comments
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The thing is Mike, a crown has to "envelope" something. A filling (if the correct materials and techniques are used) doesn't. If there is nothing to envelope, a crown won't work. It's to do with the ferrule effect which almost broke my heart when I was a student but now makes perfect sense!
It's very hard to tell without seeing you but anyway, a partial denture is the same band as a crown if you're talking about costs.
Crowns fail for a reason, they can't always be replaced. Dentists who keep sticking them back on aren't addressing the problem (although I have had patients who are happy to come back and pay every so often rather than have an extraction), it's all about information, understanding and personal circumstances.
I no longer work in an environment where monitoring a problem is acceptable, so I would fill/extract.
Hope you get it sorted!0 -
Often the amount of money won't change matters if things have gone too far unfortunately. You really should speak to your dentist again to clarify why a crown isn't possible. I regularly get teeth that are just too far gone to save. You could ask if a composite onlay is possible. They often get me out of "holes" so to speak!0
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I was after a little help and understanding.
I had some work done in the 198 band just under 2 mths ago when a crown was fitted 26/10/10
On Sat I slippled and fell and broke my front tooth. Not much left, but no pain. Went to the dentist today and he looked at the tooth and put a very large white filling in and made up a smaller looking tooth, which I think he did, so it has less bit impacted. He then said we will do someting at your next check up. I know this is over 6mths away but he then said book a appointment in jan. So is he just trying to pull the time line out as he should be putting a crown in on this broken tooth under the same 198 but has put a stop gap in until my 2mths are up, then in Jan he will be able to charge 198 again from the nhs. It's ok is with me as I do not pay any thing (low pay) but it seems he is playing the system. What should I do if anything. I am hoping he will fit a crown as it looks very bad at the moment. What opions do I have with him.
Thanks0 -
When a tooth has had a big "bang" then it is very sensible to do something semi-permanent like a filling and leave it for some months before crowning.
This is because the trauma can , in some cases, cause the nerve in the tooth to die off weeks or even months after the accident. if this happens the tooth will need rootfilling and this is best done before crowning.
So your dentist has done the right thing.
Anyway you will have to pay £198 for a new crown.0 -
sorry forgot to ask....
I take it, it will be a white crown that is fitted to the front tooth under NHS system and low pay so infact no payment is made from me.
Am i right to think even though I do not pay my NHS dentist can charge the NHS for work every 2mths.
Also just for info when I left today I was not asked to sign the green sheet as I had been in the past at each time I went, which makes me think he is pulling a fast one...lets not charge anything now but in Jan I can charge 198 for band c work. I may be barking up the wrong tree but just my thoughts.
Thanks0 -
No you are wrong in thinking that the dentist can only charge every 2 months. If you have an emergency (like your broken front tooth) then an emergency claim (band 4) can be claimed irrespective of when your last treatment finished.
There is so much to do in the NHS particularly when someone comes in on an emergency that it is not surprising that occaisionally one forgets to get someone to sign one of the many bits of paper that a course of treatment incurs.
As I said you are barking up the wrong tree they are not "pulling a fast one", since emergency treatment due to trauma is an allowable claim and by waiting to crown the tooth they are following best practice.
You need to discuss with your dentist what type of treatment or crown may be necessary next.0 -
Thanks Brook2jack.
when you say I will have to pay for the crown at £198 are you saying that you are only allowed one free band c treatment under the free NHS system. I thought I would get free treatment at a NHS dentist as long as i was on low pay tax cridits. So the dentist whould do the work and claim back the 198 from the NHS. Sorry just a little confused as I would not be able to pay the 198 if I do have to pay in JAN.
Thanks0 -
Thanks Brook2Jack for putting me stright I have stopped barking and left the tree while alone.
I now understand what the process is Thank you0 -
No,if you are exempt you will not pay the £198. I misunderstood the gist of your original question.0
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one last qus if I may brook2jack. Under my free NHS treatment will i be offered a white crown..be it cheap as I hate the sliver or gold ones for my front tooth.
Thanks0
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