CROWNS?!!? - Dental Health Message Board

WlkngNTheLght · 05-20-2003, 05:50 PM

I am a teenager who wants a new smile!!! I have been thinking all this time that I could get veneers, but as my dentist told me today, "It wouldn't work with your mouth." He said that if I were to get veneers I wouldn't be able to chew in the front, so I assumed that it wouldn't like the way I would like it to. So he suggest Crowns. I'm fine with this until he tells me what the procedure is like. I really want a smile with no gaps but I am not convinced that getting crowns are the way to go, and I don't like the idea of them shaving off half my tooth. It would be WONDERFUL if anyone out there who could tell me more about the procedure and if the money is all worth it. I would love to hear from someone who has gotten Crowns put on their teeth and they're take on it all. I just would really like an inside view of what it is that they'll have to do to my mouth. Thank you so much...

DonnaDe · 05-20-2003, 07:25 PM

It would help if you explained what is wrong with your teeth. Why would veneers not work, and why were crowns suggested? Can't chew if you got veneers? Why?

I have a bunch of crowns, all on molars or premolars. In my case, the teeth had big fillings and eventually broke, or were about to break.

I'm sure the procedure varies from office to office, but basically impressions are taken of your teeth, your tooth is ground down, a temporary crown is placed on it, more impressions are taken, and you return in a couple of weeks to get the permanent crown cemented on. It's a big deal in terms of what happens to your tooth, so be sure you research it first and weigh your options. Also, if they get too close to the nerve, you could be looking at a root canal too.

If I was you, I'd seek another opinion, preferably from someone who specializes in cosmetic dentistry, or a prosthodontist.

MrsKramden · 05-20-2003, 08:01 PM

I just had a root canal for a fractured molar and will be getting a crown. My dental insurance doesn't cover the crown or the post. The post is $200.00 and the crown is $695.00.Take into consideration that I live in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. I am 43 years old and this is being done so they wouldn't have to extract the tooth as it is always better to save a tooth.

I had to have a root canal because when the tooth fractured it went too close to the canal.I never had any pain with all of it though.

I too cannot understand why a person wouldn't be able to chew with veneers on their front teeth.

WlkngNTheLght · 05-20-2003, 08:54 PM

Sorry I wasn't more specific. On my upper jaw, the first 6 teeth are sparated by gaps. Gaps which I have had forever but we always thought that I'd grow into them, unfortunatly I haven't. And ontop of that, it seems that I grinded my teeth at some point in time consequently my teeth are small. But on the brighter side of things, I have never had any problems with my teeth...no cavities or such. This doctor seemed to think that because my teeth aren't "normal" sized, that if I were to receive veneers, they'd be too big for my mouth? I am going to another dentist tomorrow to get a second opinion. And this one is our family dentist, so maybe he'll have another side of things. But one question....veneers, if I were to get them do they ONLY come in one size?! That's the part that I didn't get. If the veneers would be too "big" then can't they just make the right sized teeth for me?!

DonnaDe · 05-21-2003, 04:40 PM

I have veneers. They can make them any size or shape. In fact, they have to, or you'd look pretty weird!

You said you have gaps between your teeth that you wanted to eliminate. Perhaps the dentist meant that in order to "close" the gaps you'd need gigantic veneers, which of course would look *****. But then I still don't understand how crowns would be better. You'd still need gigantic crowns to fill in the spaces.

I urge you to go to a specialist, and not just your family dentist. Some specialists use computers to show you what your teeth will end up looking like. That's pretty harmless and you'll get an idea of whether or not you'll like the look. Once you sacrifice your teeth to crowns, you're stuck.