Crown versus dental implant

[neva]

Can anyone advise please? One of my molars recently broke (suspect it has been cracked for ages, though my dentist didn't pick it up).

My dentist proposes doing gum surgery to allow him to fit a crown. I will need root canal work too.

I went for a second opinion from my former dentist. He told me I have bone loss around the tooth (which has now stabilised). He said I could have the crown, but his preference was an implant which he thought would be a longer term solution. (He is an implant specialist so maybe it follows he would recommend that...)

Now I am totally confused. Psychologically I would much prefer to keep my own teeth. But the gum surgery sounds awful. PLUS if I have the crown now, will that prevent me from having an implant at a later date, if need be?

Has anyone had a similar dilemma?

Thanks...

You would also need some form of "gum surgery" for an implant to be placed. I think the implant would be more stable than the crown, which he obviously thinks might fall out eventually due to the bone loss. I'm sure the crown would not prevent you having the implant later. The implant will be much more expensive, of course. I'm not a dentist but do work for one!

Thanks HCTG. I have done some research on the web and I think the gum surgery for the crown might involve removing some bone around the tooth. Am I right? I am worried that that the neighbouring teeth, which are fine, might be affected by that in the long term- particularly as I already have bone loss. Also, don't like the idea of having a 'long' tooth (even though it is a back tooth), or of irretrievably losing gum which surely could affect the appearance of an implant if I needed one later. As you can tell I am very pernickety, due to past dentistry problems which have had an impact on my wellbeing and pocket! I want to get it right this time.

I'm afraid that is something you would have to discuss with your dentist, as it will all depend on the individual case. They will know its a very important decision so will be happy to discuss the ins and outs with you so you can make the correct decision.

I'm sure an actual dentist on here might be able to give you some better general answers than me though.

Don't know whether cost comes into it - but dh's implant was just under £2000 [faint]

Looks like the crown will cost at least £850, so an implant might be worth it if it lasts longer. Yes furball the costs are unbelievable aren't they? To make a political point, I have never been able to understand why teeth don't qualify for normal, free, NHS treatment. After all, they are just as important as other parts of the body.

Since the implant is implanted in the bone, I would want to be very sure that the implant was going to stay put, given the bone loss.

Obviously have no idea what's going on in your mouth, but in my unfortunately very costly experience of dental work, it seems that crowns are routinely offered for cracked/ damaged teeth and implants are more usual for missing teeth.

For example; I have no adult lower incisors, so will need implants when the baby ones fall out in the near future. This is to save the teeth on either side from being used for bridging work/ false teeth.

I have had some very badly damaged molars which could not take further filling and so have two porcelain crowns, both of which were done with root canal work and were very successful. (The procedures were not as hideous as they sounded.)

Can't say anything about the bone loss thingy, but thought it might be useful for you to hear about other people's procedures.

Thanks 12 year gap. Good luck with your implants.

Apparently lost bone can be restored prior to doing an implant. Given all the fiddling about, surgery etc involved in doing the crown (in my case), an implant is sounding like a simpler, longer term solution. Am going to look into whether I can get a referral to a dental hospital for an opinion. Otherwise will get a third opinion from a dentist. Past experience tells me not to rush into dental work.

I'm due to have gum surgery too for this very reason (so they can expose enough tooth the fit a crown). I've already chickened out once but now the appointment is looming again and i don't want to do it. I should cancel shouldn't I.
neva, how much did your dentist say an implant would cost? I would love one but I thought they cost thousands.

Hi Lyra. The quote for the implant is over £3000(London dentist - elsewhere might be less expensive maybe??). But the message I get from him is that in my case a crown is unlikely to last, especially as I already have bone loss due to past gum disease, and I need root canal treatment too. So in the long term, I am thinking it might work out cheaper to get the implant done now, rather than waiting for the crown to fail. Your case might be different though.

I am basically. in a real quandry, don't know what to do. I plan to call the BDA helpline for advice. I would say it's worth getting a second opinion.

That sounds like a strange court case.

The threadtitle,I mean.