Hi, I was wondering if anyone can answer my question. I would like to replace a 15- year old crown, structurally it's in a good shape but the white gold rim started to show near the gumline. My dentist wants a new build-up and a pin for a replacement crown. Does anybody know if it is customary? Thank you

I am not sure what a build up is, but many of my teeth with crowns have a post. That is done quite often so it sounds like your dentist is doing the right thing.

glowing4

The rim showing is simply due to aging...our gums recede as we age and it will show. Why do it over only to have the same thing happen again...unless you are going with an all porcelain crown...which I don't think can be done with a post but am not sure about that.

Yes, I am going for an all porcelain crown, the one that I have right now is made of white gold and the front is kind of white porcelain, just do not want any metal in my mouth and at the same time am afraid to invite possibly more problems, you know, how the dentists can mess up. Someone wrote that the dentist removed the bridge without her/his permissition

french,
I wouldn't replace the crown for only cosmetic purpose. Every major procedure carries with it the risk of tooth loss.

I am going to assume this is a root canalled tooth, which is already dead. If not, the "pin" is usually called a "post" and is used in the canal and this presupposes a root canal will need to be done.

That would be a terrible thing to do to a living tooth for only cosmetic reasons.