Dental crown allergies

lilyh1234

Hello,
I am needing a replacement crown and core fitted and I can get it done on the NHS for the band 3 rate or to get a white porcelain one I have to pay £450 privately. I have allergies to emalgum, nickel, mercury and other metals. Am I eligible for a porcelain crown on the NHS because of this? 

I had all my metal fillings replaced to white after my diagnosis but my new dentist hasn’t gone through my previous dental records. What are my options?

brook2jack2

No you are not entitled to a porcelain crown because the metal underneath will contain the same metals as in most crowns. There is no mercury in crowns and amalgam is what it says it is an amalgam of lots of different metals. 

The standard NHS silver metal crown can be made of nickel free alloy . 

You will need to give your dentist a report from your dermatologist / immunologist to confirm exactly what metals you are allergic to and what you are just sensitive to. 

mda99das

you can have have a cobalt chrome crown which is given to pt with allergies. As an alternative you could go for a ceramic Zirconia crown or eMAX depending on the clinical indications, but these options would be private.

Toothsmith

Lowest allergy crown would be a gold one - lovely material for fixing teeth. Evidence of it's use in dentistry goes back millenia!

lilyh1234

Toothsmith said:

Lowest allergy crown would be a gold one - lovely material for fixing teeth. Evidence of it's use in dentistry goes back millenia!

I know a few people with gold ones from the NHS but it was from years ago. Do they actually still do them on the NHS? I know I have no allergies to gold its mainly just other metals. I really can’t be affording £450 for a white one  

Toothsmith

lilyh1234 said:

Toothsmith said:

Lowest allergy crown would be a gold one - lovely material for fixing teeth. Evidence of it's use in dentistry goes back millenia!

I know a few people with gold ones from the NHS but it was from years ago. Do they actually still do them on the NHS? I know I have no allergies to gold its mainly just other metals. I really can’t be affording £450 for a white one  

Probably unlikely

brook2jack2

There is no such thing as a pure gold crown, it is too soft and would wear away too quickly in the mouth. All metal crowns are alloys of different metals including gold crowns, which will contain many other precious and non precious metals.. 
On the NHS depending on what allergies you have a formal and written diagnosis of , you will be offered a silver metal coloured crown normally cobalt chrome or similar non precious metal material. 

sheilavw

My 2 front crowns are 29 years old, the metal work is coming through at the back of one, and also at the bottom. I had a clean on friday and I asked about replacements. The dentist said that she could only replace one on the nhs , she said the other is ok. I thought that perhaps she might be able to do both due to the age of them. I have chosen to see a gum specialist, so cannot have it done until after them, but she said that it would only be 2 appts

brook2jack2

Crowns do not need replacing after a certain amount of time and , on the NHS , should only be replaced if they clinically need replacing. Metal showing through , though it might not look nice , is not a clinical reason to replace a crown. 

More importantly if you have gum problems your gums are more likely to recede and the edges of the crowns will show again as well as losing the bone that supports them. 

You are doing the right thing in getting the basics right ie getting your gums healthy , hopefully improving your cleaning regime particularly in between the teeth , and sorting out any factors that affect gum health like smoking and diabetes. When everything is healthy you will get a much better and long lasting result from any crown work. 

sheilavw

thanks . Yes I am seeing specialist about having resurfacing? I don't smoke. I didn't look after my teeth as a child , I do now. I want to keep them as long as I can. I have had a lot of work done over the years unfortunately

sheilavw

after seeing the gum specialist there is nothing that he can do about my gum recession at the front. He's suggested the dentist fit a longer crown so she's made me my first appt for one and a half hrs in July