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.

I have got 18 crowns which I had done in Goa 4.5 years ago and still very pleased with them. They are not in anyway like Turkey Teeth and people comment how nice they look, nice size and colour but they were far cheaper than they would have been in UK.
Had them done over 3 weeks and can't really say it was a painful experience and would not hesitate to have them done now I know how what it entailed.

@FishPie2 was that aesthetic or did you have to do it?

@WeRateSquirrels like flossing and electric toothbrush or more than that

I am old and have had the same dentist for years and we were talking about teeth aging as well as the rest of your body and she showed me some photos of older people whose teeth she had done and they looked so good. Bit of good sales talk there. 😀
I decided there and then mine looked discoloured and not straight and wanted to have the crowns and started the treatment the following week and so glad I did. My husband liked the look of them and also had his done.

String floss plus a water flosser plus electric toothbrush. Never skip a day. No inflammation at all, top marks from the hygienist!

Lollygaggle gives very very good advice 😀

You might be fine with the cost now but you don't know what the future will bring. What if you get to 60, 65, 70, and can no longer afford replacement crowns and maintaining the work?

im afraid nothing is better than your own natural tooth. All dentistry has a lifespan, including implants. The superstructure needs maintainance and eventually the implant will need replacement and the implant is easier to lose due to eg gum disease than your own tooth. The younger you have an implant the more often bits will need replacing and the more often the implant will need replacing.

In general keep your own teeth as long as possible as dentistry does not last as long as your own teeth.

I could say I am a dentist of many years standing , there is no way of checking.

I have never , in decades of practice , placed 18 crowns on a single patient and certainly not in one course of treatment. I have never had a patient whose teeth were so damaged that it justified cutting down so many teeth when , statistically , 25% of them will need root treatment afterwards .

I have , however , had to pick up the pieces when multiple crowns and bridges start to fail and they do drastically. It is a nightmare to treat and more of a nightmare for the patient .

The treatment philosophy I was taught and that I teach is to preserve as much tooth as possible , no dentistry lasts forever , each time something is replaced more damage is done , plan for the future when the dentistry you have done fails .

String floss plus a water flosser plus electric toothbrush. Never skip a day. No inflammation at all, top marks from the hygienist!

I have to do the same but my god I resent it.

I thought crowns were for broken teeth not whole ones that are dead at the root?? I have a crown on my back molar because it broke. It was pricey but worth it. Was told to expect it to last 10 years. It's been 17 so far and still going strong.

I had half a filling drop out years ago and stupidly (due to a huge fear of the dentist) didn’t get it fixed. Until one day I fell forward and cracked my teeth together, tooth instantly went black/dead. Full root canal, crown over the shell of what used to be my tooth. Totally natural looking, I can’t actually believe I got away with saving the tooth after my silliness. I was on maternity at the time so even got it done for free, I show my gratitude by actually going to the dentist these days (and paying through the nose for that joy).

Almost 5 years on and not one root canal and seeing as how I am in my late 70's I expect them to last longer than I will.
My teeth were crooked and discoloured and not damaged so it was my choice and I know others who have had similar numbers of teeth capped.

@Lollygaggle thanks for your insights. I've booked in with my dentist Captain Conservative, probably for more expensive and temporary composite veneers!