NHS Vs. Private Crown

Dj_plasma

I've just had a root canal treatment done at the dental hospital, I'm very pleased with the work and it has resolved the issue i previously had with the tooth. I was advised by the consultant who completed my work that he would recommend the tooth be crowned to strengthen, but there was no rush.

On visiting my dentist, they've taken a look and confirmed they would like to crown that one and another i had treated many years ago.

I've been given 2 options:

1. NHS Crown - Would be white but would have a metal / silver cap over the tooth, which might be visible at a later date if the gums recede at all. Cost of £225.00 per tooth on NHS
2. Private crown, would be all white porcelain cap and crown. Cost £450 per tooth private.

Now I have dental insurance so i am refunded for any treatment I have done on the NHS i.e. would get £225,00 back for each treatment after paying it. Luckily my insurance also covers private procedures to same value as NHS so if I had the private treatment I would also get the £225.00 back per tooth and would just have to cover the additional cost.

The question I have is due to position one of the 6 front teeth at the top of my mouth do I have any grounds to insist on white cap and crown under the NHS as it would be visible when i open my mouth? I've been told that both should last a long time but cost of treatment is mainly due to the mount of time that is allocated to perform the procedure, the white crown and cap takes more time than the silver cap and white crown. Is the white cap and crown a better option than the NHS, will it be stronger last longer or less time etc?

welshdent

You can not insist on anything. You can ask but there is no obligation to provide anything that is beyond obtaining dental health.
the issue you mention i.e. seeing it when you have your mouth open is the same for all people that have crowns done so I think you wouild be hard pressed to show you are any different.
If it is a molar then I think you should count yourself lucky you are being offered a white crown at all as MANY practices only offer metal ones on the NHS. That is acceptable because it restores the function of the tooth and is more conservative than white crowns. I would anticipate they both "last" a similar amount of time.

brook2jack

The NHS is there to secure health not to improve looks. A porcelain bonded to metal crown will do an excellent job and be long lasting but some metal may be visible at the gum line in later years.

An all ceramic crown eg e max is an excellent choice in terms of looks and the laboratory fees are considerably more as they are more demanding to make .

The reason to chose a rpivate option would be for looks.

izzybella16

How much of the tooth is missing?

Dj_plasma

welshdent wrote: »

You can not insist on anything. You can ask but there is no obligation to provide anything that is beyond obtaining dental health.
the issue you mention i.e. seeing it when you have your mouth open is the same for all people that have crowns done so I think you wouild be hard pressed to show you are any different.
If it is a molar then I think you should count yourself lucky you are being offered a white crown at all as MANY practices only offer metal ones on the NHS. That is acceptable because it restores the function of the tooth and is more conservative than white crowns. I would anticipate they both "last" a similar amount of time.

Thanks I was asking on the basis that maybe this was similar for white fillings prior on the NHS. They would recommend private and state amalgam fillings lasted longer / were stronger, but if visible you could insist on white, which now are just as good / long lasting as amalgam. I read something about the front 6 teeth being possible for white crown, this is one of my front 6, hence trying to get info before I make my decision.

Dj_plasma

izzybella16 wrote: »

How much of the tooth is missing?

Very little is missing in my opinion from the x-rays and photos I saw of their work (but I am not a dentist), they did an excellent job just drilling a hole big enough to allow access to the canal itself.

brook2jack

izzybella16 wrote: »

Sounds like a composite build up would be fine. Then again I'm not a dentist and I've not seen your x-rays. I think this whole crown strengthens the tooth thing is overplayed, especially for a small restoration on a front tooth.

I am very glad that someone who has no dental training, is not qualified in radiography (X Ray's) hasn't seen the poster feels qualified to over rule the treatment plan of a consultant at the dental hospital who did the root filling and recommended a treatment they have no financial interest in.

izzybella16

How would a small crown on the end of a front tooth make a big difference than a composite build up? How would it make the tooth stronger? It wouldn't.

brook2jack

A consultant in restorative dentistry will have done five years undergraduate degree, two years post grad training , then a variety of postgraduate qualifications each taking two to three years . They will probably have spent over 17 years in dental education and seen thousands of patients.

More importantly they have actually seen the poster , they have seen his X Ray's and have treated what was presumably a very difficult root canal.

They have produced a treatment plan based on the years of training ,experience and actually seeing the patient!

You really cannot and should not attempt dentistry on the Internet.

izzybella16

Has the consultant really considered all options or has he done the standard dentist thing of root canal = crown.

brook2jack

Speechless. I now suspect we have a troll.