Crowning Questions

Morck

Dear all,

I'm guessing that at some point in my future, with my 18 fillings - 2 of which are on my front teeth, I'll need crowns.

After reading this excellent thread I had just a couple of questions:

1. Do you need a root canal to prepare teeth for crowns?

2. How long do Crowns last? are they just like those white fillings i.e. need replacement?

3. How susceptible are the remained of teeth underneath to decay? I imagine you can't clean them so does the crown keep bacteria out?

4. roughly, how much are you talking for say four front crowns?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Morck wrote: »

Dear all,

I'm guessing that at some point in my future, with my 18 fillings - 2 of which are on my front teeth, I'll need crowns.

After reading this excellent thread I had just a couple of questions:

1. Do you need a root canal to prepare teeth for crowns?

2. How long do Crowns last? are they just like those white fillings i.e. need replacement?

3. How susceptible are the remained of teeth underneath to decay? I imagine you can't clean them so does the crown keep bacteria out?

4. roughly, how much are you talking for say four front crowns?

1. No root canals are not always necessary, it depends on the nerve in the tooth and the amount of tooth left.

2. 10 - 15 years on average

3. The tooth can still decay, its like resetting the tooth to the pre decay state, with good hygiene and diet you should be ok. The crowns seals the tooth underneath which is rendered decay free. The only area the tooth can decay is the margin where the crown meets the tooth near the gum. The precision of fit of the crown in this area is important.

4. Crowns go from €500 - €1500 euro on average. Quality, appearance, fit and the specification vary with price.

Morck

Thanks for the reply Fitzgeme.

When you say 10-15 average, is that due to wear and discoloration or something else? And when they are replaced, is the same amount of work required again?

are they easy to break too? I mean if they're on the front teeth and you're using them for "cutting" your food?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Crowns are the strongest restoration for a badly broken down tooth. The reason for failure are the same as for natural teeth, trauma, decay or gum problems. They general dont chip or break any more easily than a natural tooth. You can bite into food and use them as teeth.

Morck

Casey Cold Buddy wrote: »

Crowns are the strongest restoration for a badly broken down tooth. The reason for failure are the same as for natural teeth, trauma, decay or gum problems. They general dont chip or break any more easily than a natural tooth. You can bite into food and use them as teeth.

thanks for that. so, save normal damage eg decay, the lifetime of a crown is between 10-15 years? so if I get one done at 35, I'd have to redo it 3-4 times in my lifetime?

kids - stay away from sugar and brush your teeth!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I have seen crowns last 40 years, I have seen them fail after a few years. It depends on:
1. The state of the tooth, the better the tooth to better the crown. If you wait until the teeth are in total bits then crowns are a salvage job. Crowning teeth sooner rather than once something catastrophic happen will ensure maximum longevity.
2. The dentist who does it, and the laboratory that make the crown.
3. How well you look after them.
4. Accidents happen, trauma of falls are part of life.

Morck

Quick question re crowns. I have a white filling on one of my front teeth for a few years. Less a filling and more of a repair job thanks to a hurley meeting my face, but I've noticed after having it for 5 or so years it's starting to discolour a bit and I'll end up replacing it in a year or two by the looksof it. Do crowns discolour at the same rate?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Crowns do not discolour over time, however a discoloured tooth need to be check to see if the nerve inside it is still alive, if it is not a simple root canal treatment is needed.

Morck

Casey Cold Buddy wrote: »

Crowns do not discolour over time, however a discoloured tooth need to be check to see if the nerve inside it is still alive, if it is not a simple root canal treatment is needed.

Thanks for that fast reply . Think I'll get a crown on the tooth in that case for the sake of it. The tooth isn't discolouring, just the white filling that was stuck on it to repair it. Besides my other problems, I also have the problem that my teeth are extremely bright and show up any little thing.

Do crowns that go onto teeth that previously had fillings still have a good success rate by the way? Thinking of some of myother choppers in the future

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Morck wrote: »

Besides my other problems, I also have the problem that my teeth are extremely bright

Now there is a high quality problem

Morck

Casey Cold Buddy wrote: »

Now there is a high quality problem

Wish it was my only one

Do crowns that go on teeth that have had fillings have the same success rate as crowns that go on teeth without fillings? Looking at the fillings I have, plus the two crown I'd like for cosmetic reasons, I rekon I need about 5 of them. Need to start saving! and err, one last question: in general, are you better going to a dentist or a specialist to fit crowns?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Most teeth need crowns because of previous damage and filling, its for this very reason you crown them. As for general dentists or specialist, a good general dentist can do good crowns, a specialist can also do good crowns. It would also be true that bad crowns can be done by both groups. Ask the dentist or specialist to show you previous cases they have done. Avoid very cheap crowns they are generally not of superb quality. Read my signature.

Morck

Cheers mate. Very informative. So just to recap:

1. Don't get cheap fillings
2. They can last upwards of 40 years
3. They don't discolour
4. They're as strong as the orignal tooth?
5. Crowns are meant for damaged teeth but just not too damaged?

I have seen that they're is three main types of material used in crowns on the British Dental Association website and one of them (forget what it was) is the strongest possible material. Do Irish dentists use the same stuff?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Dont get caught up in materials, a good dentist will choose the best material for your mouth and most importantly use a high quality laboratory that make the crowns strong and well fitting.

Morck

Casey Cold Buddy wrote: »

Dont get caught up in materials, a good dentist will choose the best material for your mouth and most importantly use a high quality laboratory that make the crowns strong and well fitting.

Thanks Fitz, for all the info. Really appreciate it. Defo will look into getting a few of them by the time I have to replace the front tooth white filling. Don't want to keep shaving bits off the tooth and refilling every 6/7 years if it's not the best start for a crown.