best option for cosmetic dental work (pics)

wexpat girl

I went to dentist last week. I'm hoping to improve my smile for my wedding in a couple of months. I was hoping to get whitening done but he advised it's not a good idea thanks to 1. a temp cap ( he said it's a composite filling but it's there 25+ years and then it was called a cap) and 2. a composite filling on a root canal treated tooth that had gone very black.

My root canal tooth was improved a good bit - I was pleasantly surprised - when the composite filling was done at first but over time (2 yrs since it was done) it has darkened again.

The 25 yr cap has always been a yellowish colour. Think I just got used to it over time. Afraid I have never been good with vanity (code for taking my appearance too seriously) as it has never really overly bothered me but the wedding has kicked me in the bum as I am very concious of both teeth now.

My options have been outlined as follows:
(a) Get the composite filling de-done to both teeth with risk that they may not work as it's a repeat job and they could come out with a bite down on something. Now, I have told myself that in this case, I would just have to be very concious of what I eat for a while and avoid biting apples and the like! Price would be E120 each.

(b) Porcelain crowns at 1K approx each. He doesn't do them but would refer me on to a specialist.

Now, with a wedding coming up, I balked at the prospect of forking out so much money YET it seems that the composites are temporary, any follow ups are risky and am I gonna keep getting a patched up job for years and spend this much money anyway? PLUS, one of the teeth is crooked too and has kinda bugged me a little but I never intended at this stage in my life to get adult braces so was just gonna out up with. However, dentist said that if that was crowned, he could straighten it aswell and this is very tempting I must admit.

I kinda think the only real solution is crowns but of course it's a lot of money. I could end up getting them anyway in the future so would it not be an idea to cough up and at least improve my smile now for the biggest day and not regret looking at my awful teeth? I have been looking at recent photos and am very unhappy with my appearance and hate that I might feel like that on my wedding day.

Then I was thinking, IF it's a good chance that the crooked tooth could be straightened, that seems like a bonus so maybe I could cough up for that tooth to be crowned and take my chances on the capped tooth being re-filled and maybe get this one crowned down the road?

I would really welcome your views please. I am trying to upload pics but they are coming up as too big! can anyone help? Post pointless without pics.

650gs

Go to Hungry, have a week away, a full mouth of teeth done and a fraction of the cost from here

wexpat girl

650gs wrote: »

Go to Hungry, have a week away, a full mouth of teeth done and a fraction of the cost from here

If only this was a realistic option.....:(

LaLa2004

You can claim back some of the cost of the crowns on the Med2 form.

wexpat girl

LaLa2004 wrote: »

You can claim back some of the cost of the crowns on the Med2 form.

Didn't know that, thanks. even if cosmetic?

650gs

And you can claim it back from Hungry too

Oral Surgeon

650gs wrote: »

Go to Hungry, have a week away, a full mouth of teeth done and a fraction of the cost from here

Measured and informed advice is best when dealing with someone else's health, appearance, money and time.... A quick fix is just that and I've seen patients pay dearly for it later....

btkm8unsl0w5r4

650gs wrote: »

Go to Hungry, have a week away, a full mouth of teeth done and a fraction of the cost from here

I would search the forum before taking this advice.

wexpat girl

https://imageresize.org/image/0dba5e83-c80f-4b55-ab76-e33b67f44674

test run

https://imageresize.org/image/a37e07df-46b5-4f66-b579-40e1c2053a88

https://imageresize.org/image/6e4b32ff-746f-485f-85c0-27d983d1ba09

Dianthus

What exact date is your wedding/how much time do you have?
The main priorities are the upper left lateral incisor (UL2)& the upper right central incisor (UR1) yes?
It's going to be a very challenging case which needs to be managed carefully.
Shade-matching to the adjacent natural teeth. The fact that you have a high lip line; absolutely everything is "on display" (so if you get gum recession of even half a millimetre, you'll notice).
You really only get one shot at doing this right.
**Strongly** consider seeing a specialist prosthodontist for consultation. They may be able to provide you with temporary acrylic crowns until finances allow for porcelain ones.

wexpat girl

Dianthus wrote: »

What exact date is your wedding/how much time do you have?
The main priorities are the upper left lateral incisor (UL2)& the upper right central incisor (UR1) yes?
It's going to be a very challenging case which needs to be managed carefully.
Shade-matching to the adjacent natural teeth. The fact that you have a high lip line; absolutely everything is "on display" (so if you get gum recession of even half a millimetre, you'll notice).
You really only get one shot at doing this right.
**Strongly** consider seeing a specialist prosthodontist for consultation. They may be able to provide you with temporary acrylic crowns until finances allow for porcelain ones.

Would it be the case that what I have at the front is a temporary crown as it was back in the day as I do recall being told it was a "temporary cap" but I would need to go back for a permanent one , but never did and it has lasted 25+ years. My dentist didn't think it was a cap but it can;t equate to the compostite filling he used on the other tooth as it was ( or seemed) far more solid if that makes any sense?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Ok it doesnt look too bad, however 2 months is not a lot of time for this. Somewhitening and some crowns would be good. Dont know how much fillings would achieve, a nice result to be sure but maybe not wedding photo perfect.

Its hard to say from photos without X-rays and such to see what the condition of the teeth are like. Whatever you do you need to do get onto it quick. If you rang my clinic on monday I wouldn't be able to get that next nor near finished in 2 months.

650gs

Asa Shaggy Condor wrote: »

I would search the forum before taking this advice.

Well that's what you always should do, after some very bad work from 2 Irish dentists and with no guarantee just ah you need this, you need that I researched abroad and cant recommend them enough,
Excellent work, great value for money, full guarantee on all work, and that works too, really nice staff, and a holiday too what more could you ask for, Oh lets not forget clinics here in Ireland for after care and check ups.
Myself, family and friends have used the same clinic for over 12 years with no complaints at all

btkm8unsl0w5r4

650gs wrote: »

Well that's what you always should do, after some very bad work from 2 Irish dentists and with no guarantee just ah you need this, you need that I researched abroad and cant recommend them enough,
Excellent work, great value for money, full guarantee on all work, and that works too, really nice staff, and a holiday too what more could you ask for, Oh lets not forget clinics here in Ireland for after care and check ups.
Myself, family and friends have used the same clinic for over 12 years with no complaints at all

I have seen literally hundreds of cases from various dental tourism clinics. My view would be different to yours, but I am glad you are happy with the place you found.

650gs

Asa Shaggy Condor wrote: »

I have seen literally hundreds of cases from various dental tourism clinics. My view would be different to yours, but I am glad you are happy with the place you found.

Thats why we have a public forum so everyone can share there experiences< Im sure lots of people are happy with the work and price they get here and Im sure a lot feel ripped off, just the same abroad Lots happy lots not

Dianthus

Go Hungary, go Hungry???
Recommendations by PM only.
They're your teeth, & you only get the one set.
Once you're confident in the person treating you, & have researched their credentials, that's all that counts.

wexpat girl

Asa Shaggy Condor wrote: »

Ok it doesnt look too bad, however 2 months is not a lot of time for this. Somewhitening and some crowns would be good. Dont know how much fillings would achieve, a nice result to be sure but maybe not wedding photo perfect.

Its hard to say from photos without X-rays and such to see what the condition of the teeth are like. Whatever you do you need to do get onto it quick. If you rang my clinic on monday I wouldn't be able to get that next nor near finished in 2 months.

https://imageresize.org/image/6e4b32ff-746f-485f-85c0-27d983d1ba09

As regards the rootcanal treated one that is also crossing over the adjacent tooth, in your experience, could a crown also straighten this? Pic doesn't seem to show quite how crooked it is. If I didn't have time to get both done, I'd consider prioritising this one if it could also be straightened and because it is the darker tooth and I think it's worse looking than the old cap - which as been a different colour as long as I can remember.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Yes a crown could reorient it to the point where its not noticeable, but again it depends on who does it. Wouldnt waste any time you are really under the cosh of time.

wexpat girl

appts all booked to allow for completion 2-3 weeks before. fingers crossed.

I defintely need the root canal one done at some point. was told that 5/6 yrs ago before it went dark and then when that happened got a white filling but that's going dark again now 2 yrs on. Sooooo, think I'll just do it.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

wexpat girl wrote: »

appts all booked to allow for completion 2-3 weeks before. fingers crossed.

I defintely need the root canal one done at some point. was told that 5/6 yrs ago before it went dark and then when that happened got a white filling but that's going dark again now 2 yrs on. Sooooo, think I'll just do it.

Best of luck with it...hope all goes well.