Dental question 22 January at 3:51PM in Health & beauty MoneySaving 1 reply 191 views

dazza-mac

Hi, having a terrible time trying to find any info with this phone, don't know if there is a dental group here...

Q. I have sensitive teeth. Is it advisable to have them whitened. Dentist said, 'we give you some Sensodyne toothpaste'. But I'm worried.  Is it likely to cause my teeth to hurt too much that I'll have to stop which will be a waste of money...?

Q. I have 2 chipped composites on front teeth, so now when I brush etc they hurt where they've chipped and exposed dentine - will that make tooth whitening extra painfull as I can only get the composites re-done after I have the whitening done.
 
Q. I need a crown on lower molar. £265.00 for amalgam crown, £450 for white one (again have to do the whitening  course first). Is the white as strong as the amalgam.

My dentist was baffling me with too much info and variations on cost. I have fibromyalgia etc and my brain was mush, and now totally confused. Please help...

Toothsmith

It's important you understand what your dentist has told you - as they're the only one who has seen your teeth and can give advise specific to you. 

You need to write these questions down, and go back to see your dentist, or email them to the practice and just ask for clarification. 

Your first 2 questions can only be answered 'it depends....' Your dentists seems confident there won't be a big issue with sensitivity, but is that backed up with any sort of refund if there is?

Your third question, is this a private vs NHS choice? The £265 option sounds like an NHS fee for a crown. Crowns aren't made of amalgam though - amalgam is a filling material mixed and packed into your tooth by the dentist. If this is the case, then it would be some sort of porcelain or ceramic crown vs a non-precious silver looking crown. Both would do the job, one would look better than the other.

It is possible that if both options are private, then the choice you've been given is £265 for a large amalgam filling. A bonded amalgam can sometimes be called an 'amalgam crown' - or a white more conventional technician made white crown. You need to clarify with the dentist what your options actually are.