Broken tooth help please.

xxdeebeexx

Hi a piece of filling has broken off a molar and the dentist has told me that it needs a crown. The NHS silver metal crown will cost £198 and a white porcelain one will cost £500 :eek:. I don't want the silver jobbie and can't justify £500 on a crown. ( I have recently been told that my job will finish in August so, cost is a factor)

When I threw my hands up in horror, the dentist said that she could do a repair and remove my silver filling and do a white filling which will bond the tooth. However, she can see 2 or 3 hair line cracks in the tooth so can't be sure how long the repair will last. If the cracks spread it could go down to the root and make a future crown impossible.............

HELP.................. what should I do?

TIA

Dx

McKneff

the £198 is NHS cost, the £500 is private.

Extraction - about £47

Up to you.

Bronnie

Is the tooth visible when you smile?

xxdeebeexx

Bronnie wrote: »

Is the tooth visible when you smile?

No it's not ( Thank goodness)

Dx

Bronnie

I had a metal NHS crown put on a back tooth that is out of sight, last year (and I am quite vain!!)

I'm in my early 50's and had already paid for a single molar implant and a couple of private crowns in the last year. It wouldn't have been my first choice to have the metal crown, but I prefer to try and save my money to spend where there will be a most obvious cosmetic benefit when treatment is required. The metal crown is out of sight and they are very durable. The whole thing is a bit of a compromise.

My teeth still look nice and the recent work has enhanced them , but there are some heavily filled teeth at the back and at my age, without unlimited resources, it will always have to be a bit of a compromise at times between what I would like ideally and what I should realistically spend.

Obviously an expert will advise better, but I wouldn't like to risk losing the tooth by not crowning it now, if the cracking is a strong possibility. I have a back tooth bonded as a compromise measure as it required unexpected treatment just after I'd paid out quite a bit, however no cracking issues were mentioned. . It has so far endured well and given no problems and looks much nicer as a bonus.

I would give further consideration to the metal crown.

Good luck anyway!

xxdeebeexx

Bronnie wrote: »

I had a metal NHS crown put on a back tooth that is out of sight, last year (and I am quite vain!!)

I'm in my early 50's and had already paid for a single molar inplant and a couple of private crowns in the last year. It wouldn't have been my first choice to have the metal crown, but I prefer to try and save my money to spend where there will be a most obvious cosmetic benefit when treatment is required. The metal crown is out of sight and they are very durable. The whole thing is a bit of a compromise.

My teeth still look nice and the recent work has enhanced them , but there are some heavily filled teeth at the back and at my age, without unlimited resources, it will always have to be a bit of a compromise at times between what I would like ideally and what I should realistically spend.

Obviously an expert will advise better, but I wouldn't like to risk losing the tooth by not crowning it now, if the cracking is a strong possibility. I have a back tooth bonded as a compromise measure as it required unexpected treatment just after I'd paid out quite a bit. It has so far endured well and given no problems and looks much nicer as a bonus.

I would give further consideration to the metal crown.

Good luck anyway!

What a lovely, well thought out reply. Thank you so much. I think you may well be right. I need to include the NHS option in my thoughts. I suppose that , if I ever came into money, I could have the silver crown removed and a white crown put on. With a deep crack I wouldn't have that option.

Thank you, you have made me rethink.

Dx

Toothsmith

I'd agree with Bronnie too.

You can always have a nicer crown later on when finances improve, which won't be possible if the tooth isn't there.

That is, if you decide you need a new one. Once you've lived with it for a while you might decide it's OK.

Gigglepig

How annoying, dental bills are not my favourite either - paying so much and it isn't exactly pleasant either.

If it really bothers you with the metal crown, can you work out a way to save the extra 300 pounds by cutting down on other things (using the different hints and tips on the site...) - could be quite a lot to save if you review all your contracts, utilities providers, insurance renewals, and other spending habits :-)

Good luck :-)

ellay864

I understand how you feel. About 18 months ago I had two fillings break within about 3 months of each other. Each time they were patched up but warned they could go again. Just before Christmas one of them did, and the other followed 2 weeks ago. I'm at the dentist and dreading being told I need crowns as we are really strapped for cash right now and saving for our wedding. But I know that the chances aren't good of them salvaging anything this time round, and it sounds like yours have got to that position as well.