Dentist - Honest Opinions Please

peachyprice

My son lost half of one of his front teeth 18 months ago, he had it built up with filling, which looked pretty good, the dentist has wanted to leave it as long as possible to make sure it didn't die. However, the filling has only lasted 6 months at a time, it keeps coming off, so it not a permanent solution. It came off again this week.

Although in full time education he has now turned 19 so the dentist will no longer treat him on NHS, only as a private patient.

As a private patient they have quoted £120 for another filling (that isn't guaranteed to last any longer than the last 3), to crown the tooth they have quoted £800 :eek:

I have been recommended an NHS dentist, who is taking on new patients and he has an appointment with them next week. on NHS I believe the filling would be £50, a crown £219?

So my question is, would an NHS crown really be good enough for a front tooth? Can they really use materials good enough for it to look ok if they are a decent dentist?

If the NHS crown is ok but not fantastic could it be replaced with a private one at a later date?

My son would rather just get the crown over and done with but at £800 it's just too much right now, and I feel that paying £120 to fill it again just throwing good money after bad.

What do you think?

brook2jack

My thoughts are £800 is on the high end for a crown only with no other work eg post, root filling etc. but is what a very good quality cosmetic dentist may charge.

Technically speaking getting one crown on its own to match with natural teeth is one of the most demanding things to achieve.

Most people would be perfectly happy with a nhs crown on a front tooth , but it is never going to look exactly like the other teeth. Many people will be happy with the looks but some people are extremely conscious of any discrepancy and a private crown can be made of materials and stained to more closely match the other teeth.

A crown can be replaced at a later date but it would probably involve loosing a little bit more tooth so shouldn't be done too often.

To pr!cis for many people a nhs crown would look perfectly ok. For some with a more demanding eye or who need customising of colour or stain private will provide a better effect.

peachyprice

Thanks for your input, I'll pass your comments on to my son.

He's lucky in that his smile isn't as all about the teeth as some people, most of his smile is in his eyes so that you don't really notice the teeth IYSWIM, even with half a tooth he still has a great smile!

He's going to see how comfortable he feels with the NHS dentist and how confident they seem to be, and we'll take it from there. He had a bad experience last christmas when he had to have the filling replaced by an emergency dentist, so I think that's what he's expecting.

Oh, the price, that's trendy North London for you!

atolaas

About 20 years ago as a child, my brother broke his two adult front teeth. He was on an adventure holiday with the school and fell from about 6ft up...head first onto a concrete floor. Apart from being badly shaken up, it was his teeth that bore the brunt of the trauma. He's in his mid 30's now and has crowns on the teeth. He's only had to have them mended 3 times in the last 20 years. All done on the NHS

peachyprice

atolaas wrote: »

About 20 years ago as a child, my brother broke his two adult front teeth. He was on an adventure holiday with the school and fell from about 6ft up...head first onto a concrete floor. Apart from being badly shaken up, it was his teeth that bore the brunt of the trauma. He's in his mid 30's now and has crowns on the teeth. He's only had to have them mended 3 times in the last 20 years. All done on the NHS

Boys and their front teeth! This is the same son who had no teeth from 3 to 5 from doing the same as your son! And the same son who lost a slither off the side of the other front tooth from slipping on ice. That bit has never fallen off.

esmy

My DD has just had an NHS crown on a front tooth that she broke in half aged 9 falling off her bike. The tooth has been built up with white filling till now. She's delighted with it as it has been made to close a slight gap that she hated between her front teeth, its a good match colour wise and unless you study it closely you wouldn't know it's not a natural tooth. She got it for free (maternity exemption).

RuthnJasper

I can't even afford an NHS dentist (!) but have always been happy with the work they did on my teeth when I did go. My dad has just got a new crown on one of his fangs (NHS) and was extremely pleased. Personally, I'd go with the NHS (and would probably pick them anyway, even if I could afford to go private).

Hope all goes well for your son. x

P.S. Peachy; can I have his number? I like men with nice eyes, hehe:D;)

sheilavw

I have front crowns, done 22 years ago on NHS and still ok. I am very careful though. I always refuse the chewy toffees!!!

lollipopsarah

I got my crown finally fixed at college I think (back when you got a gold peg thing put in first then a crown attached) which lasted for nearly 30 years and then I think it cost about £100 for another cap which still fits well.
I don't understand why the dentist is only doing nhs up until 19, my children are older and still receive nhs care.
xx

peachyprice

Thank you for all your NHS success stories, it's very encouraging to hear good reports.

As for you RuthnJasper, down girl! :rotfl:

Lollipop, the dentist, like so many others, only does NHS treatment for children, adults is private patients only. Which doesn't bother me because I haven't needed anything done to my teeth for 25 years.

RuthnJasper

peachyprice wrote: »

Thank you for all your NHS success stories, it's very encouraging to hear good reports.

As for you RuthnJasper, down girl! :rotfl:

Lollipop, the dentist, like so many others, only does NHS treatment for children, adults is private patients only. Which doesn't bother me because I haven't needed anything done to my teeth for 25 years.

Hehe; ok Peachy, I'll get back in my box like a good girl :rotfl::D:rotfl:.
'Night-night! x