Advice from Dentist mums/people who know about teeth please

[puffling]

I'd like some advice about what treatment I should have for my 'first molar' tooth. Over the last few years I'vehad 2 or 3 fillings that have fallen out or chipped off. Today I got some temporary filler. I've asked for a crown as the fillings keep breaking and there's lots of decay. Originally my dentist agreed to this, but is now saying that it might be difficult as he'd have to get rid of what's left of the tooth and it would be a shallow crown which he says is hard to do. His alternatives are a white crown, a filling or a white overlay (can't remember name of this).
I'm entitled to free treatment as I have a baby and therefore would like the a crown on the NHS if it's a viable option. What would you recommend? Is he against the crown because I woudn't be paying for it?
Thanks for taking the time to read this
Dawnx

[Mytholmroyd]

Hi puffling

I am not a dentist but have recently had a crown (matt gold) on one of my first molars. It was almost all filling which was slowly breaking up and my dentist suggested she crown it now as it was free after the baby. She did it matt gold (didnt want to look like a drug dealer!) but said if I didnt like it I could always pay for a white one later. I'd have had to pay for the white one now if I had chosen that. She did say whilst she was doing it that the prep was slightly different for a gold and a white crown but I cant remember what it was now. I had it done about 6 weeks ago and it has been great.

Hope you get it sorted!

[jasper]

You can get a gold shell crown on the NHS.If he tells you otherwise and is an NHS dentist and has accepted you for NHS traetment he is in breach of his terms of service.

Gold shell crowns -Hard wearing, feel great.

White crowns NOT available on the NHS but as white crowns involve drilling away MORE tooth substance than gold I can't understand what he is talking about.

How much of the tooth is filled ( as a fraction of the whole tooth)?