Dental crown question

newlywed

Hi, I have just had my first ever dental crown… aside from it being ugly metal on the nhs (quoted £500 or £700 for private white or full porcelain ones!)… should the crown cover the entire tooth? On the inside, the crown goes down to the gum line. On the outside it only goes half way down the tooth so part of my own tooth also shows at the bottom.

is that how it should be? I’ve read that a crown should cover the whole tooth, but not always?

MilesT6060842

If you are unsure seek a second opinion from another dentist. 

This isn't really the site to get medical opinions. 

newlywed

I just wondered if those who have crowns could say whether theirs goes to gumline, or not. 

Spoonie_Turtle

newlywed said:

I just wondered if those who have crowns could say whether theirs goes to gumline, or not. 

One of mine does, the other (from ~18 years ago) doesn't on the outside but does on the inside.  I really can't remember if it didb on the outside when it was originally fitted.

So … no help to you whatsoever, sorry!

welshdent

If concerned speak to your dentist however its quite common to have a crown that doesnt specifically cover every single part of the tooth. In fact they can often be the sensible and healthy option. They are called onlays and three quarter crowns. I myself very rarely do full coverage crowns now unless I am replacing an existing one. 

Toothsmith

^^^^^^^^^^^

What he said 

Undervalued

newlywed said:

Hi, I have just had my first ever dental crown… aside from it being ugly metal on the nhs (quoted £500 or £700 for private white or full porcelain ones!)… should the crown cover the entire tooth? On the inside, the crown goes down to the gum line. On the outside it only goes half way down the tooth so part of my own tooth also shows at the bottom.

is that how it should be? I’ve read that a crown should cover the whole tooth, but not always?

As I understand it, these full "ugly" metal crowns are stronger and involve removing less of the original tooth than nice looking porcelain ones so there is for and against.

I have an NHS full metal crown, protecting a root canal treated tooth (again on the NHS) and it has given 15 years trouble free service - and counting!

newlywed

welshdent said:

If concerned speak to your dentist however its quite common to have a crown that doesnt specifically cover every single part of the tooth. In fact they can often be the sensible and healthy option. They are called onlays and three quarter crowns. I myself very rarely do full coverage crowns now unless I am replacing an existing one. 

Thanks. He said he wouldn’t do an onlay because it would cost the same and more Of the tooth may still break, he said a crown would be stronger and better.  The invoice says a jacket crown.

I don’t think is sat right, it sticks out strangely on the inner side, overlaps the gum on the inside which feels strange and the bite isn’t right either - I did say that before I left the chair - so will go back and speak to him… since during the dry fit it did cover the tooth completely, I am wondering if it was cemented in the wrong way round… hopefully I am wrong as I would rather not visit the dentist if I can help it!

Toothsmith

It would be really difficult to stick a crown on the wrong way round. They are made to tolerances of 100th/mm and if you try to put it on the wrong way round it just simply doesn't seat. 

It is not unusual for a crown to need a little bite adjustment on fitting. If this isn't quite right yet it can feel very wrong - again, your mouth can tell if a crown is 1-200th mm out! 

The definition of a crown Vs an onlay is quite a moveable thing - and a lot of modern restorations are a bit of a hybrid between the two. But you have to decide one or the other when you're typing the notes or producing an invoice, so you tend to go with the one it's 'most' like! 

If you don't think it's quite right, then go back. It's almost certainly quite a small adjustment that will be needed.