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Original poster

Any dentists in tonight whose brains I can pick?

31 replies

WigWamBam · 22/01/2006 20:58

One of my front teeth was broken years and years ago, and I have a sort of bonded filling on it. This falls off pretty regularly and it's on it's way out again now.

I shall try and get in to the dentist to get it done again tomorrow, but I was wondering whether it would it be better if I asked to have it crowned. Sometimes I've had to go back to the dentists three times in as many days to have it refilled, although this last one has lasted for about 5 years. I'd really prefer something that didn't fall out and leave me looking like the bride of Dracula every now and again!

OP posts:

crazydazy · 22/01/2006 21:07

Oh god don't mention dentists!!! Sorry WWB can't give any good advice.

Have not been to the dentist in about a year (had a bad experience) anyway, my front tooth which is veneered has broken and so I rang NHS direct to find a dentist who would take me as an NHS patient, I found one, went to the appointment and SHE REFUSED TO TREAT ME saying that my tooth is cosmetic and will not repair it for me. I need lots of other work doing as its been so long but refused to do this too. This is the only dentist in my area.

starlover · 22/01/2006 21:16

i would wwb! i have the same thing on a side tooth. it has a root canal and atm has a white lump of stuff stuck on the side.
my dentist said it wouldn't last forever and i'd be better off having a crown.

Original poster

WigWamBam · 22/01/2006 22:19

Front tooth only cosmetic?? That's appalling! As far as I know, they are supposed to treat the front teeth differently to the rear; if you wanted, say, a white filling at the back you would have to pay privately because that's cosmetic, whereas at the front it has to be white because of the fact it's on show.

It's only occurred to me since this filling started coming out again that it seems a strange thing to have done to a front tooth, I would have thought it made more sense to crown it.

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starlover · 22/01/2006 22:23

costs quite a lot to crown, even on nhs.
my dentist said it'd be around £150

Original poster

WigWamBam · 22/01/2006 22:26

I think I paid about £80 for one I had done last year, might have been a little more.

I'd willingly pay it - this filling has been a real pain. It came out three days before I got married, dentist fixed it, it came out again the day before I got married, dentist fixed it, it came out again the second day of my honeymoon. I'll spend the next few weeks expecting it to fall out again. I'd gladly pay to have it done if it would last longer and look less obvious than what I have now.

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chicagomum · 22/01/2006 22:29

(Doning professional cap)....

A crown requires you to "drill" the tooth down by a significant amount to create space "front/back/left/right/and biting surfaces" (iyswim). So isn't the first port of call. However if a repair constantly fails I would def. consider it or (depending on how much is lost by the original damage) a veneer.

Crazydazy, I would want your dentist to further explain/justify what they are saying to you, as we can't simply decide which aspects of your care we are willing to deal with. Think you need to get further information .

Original poster

WigWamBam · 22/01/2006 22:33

Chicagomum, I've had this one for about 15 years, and it has failed at least 20 times, probably far more - as I say, the last time was 5 years ago so it's been better this time but it's the first time it's lasted so long. It's only a small piece (although it leaves me looking awful when it falls out!) so there's plenty of the natural tooth left - maybe that's why it's never been considered before.

What would be the difference between what I have now and a veneer? (Sorry, don't really know much about teeth and dentists except I don't like them much ... present company excepted, of course )

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chicagomum · 22/01/2006 22:44

Veneer - basically a thin shell of porcelain that is glued onto the front of the tooth (involving a few millimeters shaved of the front surface of the tooth, plus the "chunk" that you've chipped off).

What you have now - a "composite filling ("composite" is the name of the white filling material) that is "bonded" onto the tooth but seems to be coming away all to often.

starlover · 22/01/2006 22:47

now now wwb... dentists are lovely people! until they start messing with your teeth!

Original poster

WigWamBam · 22/01/2006 22:51

Thanks, chicagomum.

Starlover, I have nothing against dentists until they get within ten paces of my mouth. Then I don't like them very much ... I have to say that my current one doesn't like me very much because I'm a nightmare patient! Such a wuss.

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starlover · 22/01/2006 22:53

hehe i know the feeling! hence me not having a crown done even though i am still covered on maternity exemption

chicagomum · 22/01/2006 22:53

Starlover - shouldn't that read "unless they start messing with your teeth or your meet-up arrangements" .

starlover · 22/01/2006 22:54

don't! i do still feel bad about that

lockets · 22/01/2006 22:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

starlover · 22/01/2006 22:56

oooh maybe i'd like mine more if i got stickers. or some chocolate

Original poster

WigWamBam · 22/01/2006 22:56

The last time I had a crown done the dentist had already put me on Valium and I was still a wreck - he put a little tray with the goo that they make the mould from into my mouth but it didn't have any sides to it, and the stuff came out. It was all over my mouth, running down towards my throat ... and I was meant to sit like that for three minutes. It ended up all over me, all over the dentist, and the last time I was in there I could still see it on his ceiling

I am every dentist's worst nightmare.

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chicagomum · 22/01/2006 22:56

Oh I was only joking.

starlover · 22/01/2006 22:58

my dentist has a big skylight in the ceiling. and last time i was in there there was a cat on it! lol

it did amuse me for quite some time, which was good.

Aero · 22/01/2006 23:02

I had a similar problem WWB - my composite filling just kept falling out after a certain amount of time and latterly more often than I could be bothered with so the dentist suggested veneers on both my front teeth. I have to say they do look good and feel ok, (though not quite like what was there originally). They were quite sensitive and took a good while to settle down, but I've never looked back tbh, and would recommend the treatment. Mine was made all the better as it was free - ds2 was under a year. I think my teeth hate me being pregnant/bf - I saw my dentist so often in that period!!

Original poster

WigWamBam · 22/01/2006 23:06

I did too, Aero - pregnancy definitely did things to my teeth!

I might ask him about veneers when this one finally makes it's mind up that it's coming out ... it's loose at the bottom but very firmly attached at the top still, so it's wobbly and in the wrong place, and it's driving me mad! It's an NHS dentist, I suppose they can still do the veneers without me having to pay the full private charge?

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chicagomum · 22/01/2006 23:09

If it is loose at any point it will be allowing saliva /bacteria etc underneath (what that means is plaque and therefore decay between the tooth and filling) so get it soted sooner rather than later.

Aero · 22/01/2006 23:13

I would have thought so WWB. Think they're pretty expensive, but definitely worth it. Think I'm right in saying they will never decay and they're pretty strong, although I always feel I should be careful with them in cases of opening things etc with my teeth iyswim. They don't quite feel as 'safe' as the original. Saying that, they most certainly don't feel 'unsafe'.

starlover · 22/01/2006 23:14

hmm so what is better.. a crown or a veneer?

chicagomum · 22/01/2006 23:17

Never open things with your teeth (say's a dentist with chips out of her front teeth fromopening dd's "anyway-up" cups in that manner. Venners are "better" in that they are less destructive" to your teeth (ie we need to remove less tooth substance to place them than we do for a veneer).

starlover · 22/01/2006 23:20

hmm, i don't have much tooth left tbh! it's mostly filling.
actually, i'd be better off having it out i'm sure

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