To ask for experiences getting Crowns (or other alternatives) (teeth)

[MyTeethLookShit]

Recently noticed in photos that my teeth look terrible (again). I had a dead front tooth due to an accident, and had a root canal done. It was always a bit grey though despite this. Then later on I got composite veneers on the advice of my (I think very good) dentist. They looked quite good at first, but either need re-doing or I need to move to the next stage.

I have been wondering about crowns for years. I am glad I didn't go this route 20 years ago but has technology now moved on. Are modern crowns a bit better? Can you always tell at the gum line? And does anyone know if there are any limitations on even attaching a crown to a tooth that has been hollowed out previously and has a dead root!

YABU - don't get crowns, get the composite veneers redone and preserve your natural teeth

YANBU - it's time for crowns, the technology has really moved on.

*yes I know I need to go to the dentist and ask the professional, but he always tells me no crowns, and my teeth look shit so I need another plan.

Crowns are better than extractions for compromised teeth but I wouldn't consider it for cosmetic reasons. They don't last forever.

@beamur i'm already in my mid 40s, I don't really mind about the cost even if recurrent. I want to have the best possible looking teeth* (that are still healthy).

*Not weird dazzling white tombstone teeth, to be clear.

Crowns are designed to go over hollowed out teeth. That's the final stage of the root canal treatment. I had mine done a few years ago and yes, you can still see it at the gum line. I wouldn't consider them for the front tooth unless there was no other alternative.

I have crowns on both top front teeth and you can't tell at the gum line. They're actually really good. I got them in 2017.

I did go private for them though so they were pretty pricey.

Go to an EXCELLENT dentist and ask their opinion. I have a veneered front tooth that ended uk being crowned and it’s the bane of my life. Honestly. Do as little as possible.

I don’t know how old you are, but expect that to change as you age.

@EvangelicalAboutButteredToast thanks for the words at caution! Do you mean because gums recede as you age?

Composite veneers are fine at first but do require a lot of upkeep. More modern crowns don’t have metalwork inside them and look much more natural. Because there’s no metalwork inside them they don’t have the dark mark at the gum line. Have you considered porcelain veneers? You would need a couple of mm “shaving off” the front of your teeth but they’re far less destructive to your teeth than crowns

I am 43 and have had two crowns on my top front teeth for over 20 years. They have been great minus one minor problem maybe seven years ago. However, now that I'm in my forties my gums are receding and the grey at the gum line is very obvious. I find it so upsetting and have lost my confidence in my smile. If you can avoid crowns, I would. I have heard that you can get a white inside bit these days (so even if the gum recedes you only see tooth colour). I don't know too much about this but worth finding out. Apparently that available privately.

@Mumof2NDers maybe I just need to commit to getting them redone every 2 years or so. They looked quite good at first except they are not shiny like natural teeth when they are dry.

porcelain dentist didn't recommend for some reason, i think because you have to shave down the tooth quite a bit but then they do have a tendency to pop off apparently! So you lose tooth for something less perm than a crown.

id be going private and happy to spend to get best result, eg on all porcelain crowns.

@pink sorry to hear you're not happy anymore. Are yours metal inside? Could you get them redone?

I wonder if getting them done when you're already in your 40s means they do them up to the point of any receding, or if they just look bad from the start! I have some receding

@hoarahloux good to hear a success story! Are yours all porcelain do you know? Are you young?!

Every time you put a drill on a tooth you shorten its lifespan.

No dentistry lasts forever, it all needs redoing and each time a bit more tooth is taken away.

Composite veneers are the most conservative option , very little or no tooth is removed but like all dentistry it will need maintaining and repairing. Crowns are very destructive 1.5mm or more is removed from all the way around the tooth.

The most conservative thing would be to, if possible , have the root filled tooth internally bleached to get rid of much of the grey , possibly have the rest of the teeth whitened and have the composite veneers redone.

Crowns , in general , have around a 10 to 15 year lifespan, less on a root filled tooth because it is brittle to start off with and removing a lot of tooth to crown it makes it more brittle.

Have a consultation with a dentist you trust and who has been recommended , tell them your concerns and try to go for the least invasive treatment plan . No crown is as good or strong as your own tooth.

@Lollygaggle thanks, are you a pro??

"The most conservative thing would be to, if possible , have the root filled tooth internally bleached to get rid of much of the grey , possibly have the rest of the teeth whitened and have the composite veneers redone. "

this is exactly what I have already done and what the good dentist advised. I probably should go and get it refreshed. Maybe he can do the inside bleaching again, I've had that quite a few times. Always goes back to grey tho. I think partly as it's now more translucent due to not being solid.

It cost £££ the first time around so was hoping for something I don't have to do every few years!!

Yes gums recede with age and women are particularly prone to gum inflammation as they go through peri and menopause and gums are more inclined to get irritated around crowns.which causes recession! So all those crazy people who are trotting off to Turkey for fake teeth have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen as they get into their late forties and beyond. Just a whole world of pain.

Porcelain veneers are a lot less destructive than crowns.
I’ve had 2 veneers on for years with no trouble.
I had mine done for the same reason as you. Fell off my bike when I was 9. Needed root canal and teeth went dark.
Porcelain veneers are more expensive but in the long run will cost less than having composite replaced every 2 years.
If you go for crowns ask your dentist about Zirconia crowns. Very strong but without the metal.

My DS has 2 porcelain crowns at the front due to an accident. They saved his teeth and look amazing. Bit sore for a few days when he got them but no other issues. They look real as well.

Zirconia crowns require much more tooth to be removed than crowns with metal in . They need a lot of tooth removal , around 1.5 mm all the way around which is a lot of tooth on a front tooth. Not a problem if the tooth is already heavily damaged or filled but on an unrestored tooth this much removal will cause the nerve in around 25% of teeth to die off and need root treatment.

I have four crowns top front and centre after a teenage accident. First ones lasted over 25 years, second set 8 years so far and looking perfect. No gum problems (I’m 52) but I do look after them really, really carefully.

Assume if you are getting one front tooth crowned you have to do both? Or not?

Aesthetically matching just one crown to natural teeth is one of the hardest things to do in dentistry. However you do not want to destroy a perfectly healthy tooth by crowning it to make matching easier.

I have crowns on my two top teeth at the front due to an accident. They are pretty good nothing visible at the gum line. They do have the odd inflammation flare up though every couple of months and that can be a little sore. But otherwise they look like your own teeth. Quite expensive though although they are handmade for you.

Have you considered an implant? Its a better long term solution and the younger you have them the better in terms of bone and gum health.

@SuperGreens no I haven't but will! Although the idea makes me squirm. Is that when you have a peg put in?!