Unhappy with new dental crown

stripeyzebra19

I had a crown fitted yesyerday by a private "specialist cosmetic dentist" to cover a 1st molar that had turned grey after a root canal. This cost £650. At the consultation there was no discussion of what type of crown, I just knew it would be porcelain looking to match my other teeth. Now it's fitted I'm so disappointed, the colour does not match and it looks very unnatural, there is also a dark line where the crown meets the gum that looks awful  from googling i now know this is a porcelain fused with metal crown, and didn't realise there were other options of having a full porcelain one. I assumed he would give me the option which looked best cosmetically.

Is there anything I can now do about this? If I go back and tell him I'm unhappy with it I'm guessing I would have to pay the £650 (or more) again to swap it?

brook2jack2

Did you get a written estimate? If so what did it say? After that your first stage is to phone the practice to discuss your concerns . Depending on what the underlying tooth is like and what your bite etc is like  it may be that a porcelain bonded crown was the only type suitable. It may be that it is not a pbc but the greyness of the tooth that is showing at the gum line . Very discoloured teeth can show through particularly at the gum line of the tooth and can be very,very difficult to disguise.

on front teeth you will often have to bleach a tooth before crowning it as grey shows through so easily. This is not an option for a molar tooth. 

None of us know the only person who can knowledgeably discuss this is your dentist , so you are best discussing it with them 

stripeyzebra19

No I didn't receive a written estimate, I was told the cost verbally at the consultation.

It definitely is a porcelain bonded crown as I can see the metal on the inner side of the tooth. I guess I'll have to suck it up and assume that like you say pbc was the only option to cover the dark tooth and the other options were not viable.

Retired_at_55

I'm sorry I can't  offer any encouragement, strpeyzebra19.  Some years ago I had an NHS crown fitted to an upper molar, visible when I smile, and, straight away, there was a very visible really black ring at the gum - I can still feel the 'ridge' where the crown stops at the top of the gum.  I asked the dentist about it (a friend's  child aged 4 asked me if I ate too many sweets and they had given me a bad tooth!) and the dentist said it was like that to make cleaning easier.

I was never, and still now feel the same way, at all happy with it.

Some years later a lower molar needed a crown and I paid, what was to me, a lot of money for a private crown.  The resultig crown is perfect and there is no black line and no obvious  'mark' where the crown meets the gum.

If I ever need (hopefully not) another crown  I would be careful to choose to have the best one possible.  If the first crown ever fails I would not want a similar one in future.

I hope you find a good solution.  My smile is permanently affected as I don't want anyone thinking I have an untreated bad tooth.

I know it is a cosmetic and not a health issue but still disappointing when the outcome does not look good.

Best wishes.

Retired_at_55 

stripeyzebra19

Thanks for your input retired at 55, interesting to see your experience and glad you were happy with your private crown. My situation is similar to your NHS crown, I suspect I will never be happy with mine either and will feel angry at it every time I see it in the mirror.

stripeyzebra19

Just wondering why it is not possible to bleach a molar? And are you referring to internal bleaching here?

brook2jack2 said:

Did you get a written estimate? If so what did it say? After that your first stage is to phone the practice to discuss your concerns . Depending on what the underlying tooth is like and what your bite etc is like  it may be that a porcelain bonded crown was the only type suitable. It may be that it is not a pbc but the greyness of the tooth that is showing at the gum line . Very discoloured teeth can show through particularly at the gum line of the tooth and can be very,very difficult to disguise.

on front teeth you will often have to bleach a tooth before crowning it as grey shows through so easily. This is not an option for a molar tooth. 

None of us know the only person who can knowledgeably discuss this is your dentist , so you are best discussing it with them 

brook2jack2

Because a molar is a very thick tooth compared to an incisor . Dark staining can be impossible to completely get rid of in an incisor (front tooth) . Internal bleaching can lighten a front tooth enough on its own or lighten it enough that a crown will mask the colour more successfully. But internal bleaching has its risks. 

Internal bleaching cannot be done on a molar tooth because the dentine and enamel (inner and outer parts) of the tooth are too thick to have an effect .