Dental people. Advise on old worn crown please?

[YourHandInMyHand]

I had my two front bottom teeth fitted with crowns years ago, at least a decade, can't remember exactly but closer to 12 years ago. Anyway one of them has worn down to metal, so I now have a big dark spot of it showing through right at the front of my mouth. My gums underneath are also grey, dentist says this is from the metal leaching into them?

Didn't know crowns didn't last, or that the metal could leach into your gums!

Anyway my dentist said they can't do anything as I'm an NHS treatment, if I wanted them sorted I will have to go private as it's cosmetic. Am so self conscious I'm considering it but what sort of costs am I looking at? Is it going to be hundreds?

Gah DS has just started crying - I will try to check back later for replies. Would appreciate any advice at all.

Current dentist is not the one who fitted the crowns BTW.

Oh and I grind my teeth, think that's not helped. Meant to wear a mouth guard at night but it hurts. Got given it a couple of months ago.

Sounds awful .

I have two front upper teeth crowned - they were done over 30 years ago .I do worry when they'll need attention but you seem to have been very unlucky with yours .

Hope someone with dental expertise comes along soon .
I've got the interest ,but no knowledge !

Yes, having 2 private crowns would cost in the region of £600 (and if there is no other reason to replace them other than for cosmetic reasons, unfortunately it would be done privately and not on the NHS). Grinding your teeth would cause the porcelain to gradually wear away - are your top teeth that meet the crowns worn too? So, I would advise you to persevere with wearing the guard at night. If it hurts, do you mean it digs into your gums? If so, ask the dentist to trim it for you. Also, crowns should last 10-15 years (if you're lucky and look after them, they can last longer, but not a lifetime).

The mouth guard - it feels like it is pulling the tops of the front teeth back. Hope that makes sense! Will speak to dentist about it.

I didn't know I ground my teeth until new dentist told me a few months ago but she said there is visible wear on all my teeth from it.

£600 I will probably have to live with unsightly teeth. Am a carer to DS, wish I had the means but I don't!

Can you (would you want to!) get to a dental school? They offer free treatment by students (!), but are closely monitored. Appointments take longer, as everything is checked rigorously, but free dental treatment.

I was quoted £400 for a new crown (assuming all the work in your mouth is OK and you don't need a root filling and that sort of thing). Mine fell off a few months ago so I had to have the conversation with dentist about whether I could save it. Thankfully he did save it and it cost £18, God bless him!

They have a life of about 10 years I am told although some last a lot longer and some fail sooner so yours has done OK.

I agree with the idea of going to a dental school. DH lost his 4 bottom front teeth playing rugby as a teenager and about 18 years ago got sent to Guys in London by our dentist so they could try and fit a bridge. It was a bit experimental and difficult to do so they probably wanted to practice but it has lasted all this time except for one occasion when it fell out and had to be stuck back on. It would have cost a fortune if it had been done in the local practice, if they could do it at all, so it was great to get it done on the cheap.

Oh I've never heard of dental schools! May be an option, I will have to try and find out where nearest one is. Do you have to live in the same area as the dental school? I will do a bit of googling later.

I wish my dentist who fitted the crown had told me it would last about £10 years, I could have saved a little for when it went!

I know it's a bit shallow but I feel so embarrassed by having this dark spot on my front tooth, I'm self conscious enough as it is!

Whereabouts are you? Dental schools are attached to universities and are where we learn how to treat patients under supervision. I'm not sure how they pick the patients though!

I am in H*ull , East Yorkshire. No idea if there is one locally or not.

Don't think you need to live in same area as dental school - have just asked DS2 (4th yr dental student). He said in Leeds you just need to be flexible re dates and be able to get to the dental school. You just need to ring the dental school or get your dentist to refer you there. I know he sees lots of patients of different ages and with different problems. Depends what you need as to what yr student you get. Obv the more complicated the problem, the more experienced the student. I know at Leeds they train hygienists and dental nurses along with the dentists, so you can be referred over to the hygienist if necessary.

Just seen your post - can you get to Leeds from Hull? My DS2 said there is a dental clinic in Hull attached to Leeds Uni. Ring the Uni for details. I know the students are put on placement there.

Could you get a second opinion with another NHS dentist? I have had some pretty fancy stuff done on the NHS including a two gap bridge, when other dentists have told me it would not be possible.

YY to second opinion .

( and I should take my own advice )

Thanks for the recent replies. Mumof3 thanks I will investigate that option, I could get the train to Leeds, even better though if there is one here.

Higgle worth a try I guess, hard to find an NHS dentist here though as it is and I do generally like mine, as much as you can like a dentists that is! They said as it was purely cosmetic it couldn't be done on NHS, only if it was causing me pain or had a recurring abscess or what have you.

Could it suddenly start to be "painfull" and "sensitive"? (Nod, nod, wink, wink - IYKWIM).

I know the dental school are back in on the 8th Jan. DS2 said you can ring and have a chat to them there. Hope you get sorted. The patients DS has had have all been v pleased with the work done - you just need to allow more time than usual :)