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Original poster

Another tooth question

19 replies

MrsMuddle · 10/02/2009 22:04

I was reading the other thread about the poor woman with an abscess in her second back tooth.

I also have a problem with my second-back tooth and I'd like some advice.

Before Christmas, I was eating a toffee Quality Street and part of my filling came out, followed by part of the tooth. Basically there's a bit of filling and half a very wobbly tooth left.

I saw a lovely new dentist last week, and she gave me the choice of having the tooth crowned or removed, with the option 6 months after removal of getting a bridge made.

I've opted for extraction from a pain, cost and fewer visits point of view! But on the last thread several posters recommnended saving the poster's tooth.

What are the implications of having a tooth at the back of my mouth removed?

OP posts:
jasper · 10/02/2009 22:17

I am a dentist.

I don't get it !
If the tooth can be crowned , than extracting it and later bridging the gap is a nonsense.

A bridge would involve shaving off the enamel from the tooth on either side of the gap. why would you do that if the tooth in question could undergo basically the same thing (shaving off of enamel) to crown it, and be saved?

If it is near the back of the mouth and won't show a gap when you smile, extracting it and accepting the gap is a logical option

Original poster
MrsMuddle · 10/02/2009 22:20

So, extraction or crown?

The bridge was only mentioned as a possibility if I opten for extraction but later decided I couldn't live with a gap.

OP posts:
shonaspurtle · 10/02/2009 22:22

I'm missing the one of the second to back teeth in my lower set. Tbh, it doesn't show and it hasn't affected my eating.

I'd rather not have a missing tooth but it all came down to cash so it was a non-decision for me.

If you've got the money then it would surely be better to get a crown than a bridge (my dentist didn't even suggest a bridge), but if you don't then it really won't be that bad.

Original poster
MrsMuddle · 10/02/2009 22:42

It's about £12 for the extraction. Didn't ask how much a crown would be, but imagine it would be a lot more expensive.

Am thinking a bridge many years down the line when I've got more disposable income.

OP posts:
shonaspurtle · 10/02/2009 22:49

An NHS crown costs around £200 but it can be more if you want a particular material. I'm sure my dentist said £400 for a gold one, probably would be more if you wanted a tooth coloured one (I think the NHS was metal).

jasper · 10/02/2009 22:51

In Scotland a crown on the NHS is about £100. A 3 unit bridge about £250.

If you think the gap would bother you do not get an extraction followed by a bridge!
Smile in the mirror to see if the tooth shows when you smile.

If money is tight say so and ask if the tooth could be patched up with an adhesive cement for now with a view to crowning later.

I can't really diagnose without seeing your tooth but this kind of temporary repair often lasts many years!

shonaspurtle · 10/02/2009 23:04

Why would my dentist quote me so much more jasper? Can NHS dentists choose not to offer some treatments on the NHS?

I am in Scotland and it was definitely more than £100. Wouldn't have made a difference to my decision but I really like my dentist and am a bit disappointed if she wasn't giving me the correct info.

jasper · 10/02/2009 23:17

About 10 years ago the NHS stopped allowing us to do tooth coloured crowns on molars. WE have to do gold ones. Don't ask why as I have NO idea as they cost about the same.

A gold crown on a molar or a tooth coloured crown on a premolar, incisor or canine all cost about £100.
I think the exact fee is actually £127 , of which the patient pays 80% which I am calling about £100!

if the tooth needs root filled or a post , this costs extra.

I happen to quite like gold crowns on molars but some patients dont so if they want a tooth coloured one I have to charge them an independant fee . From memory I think we charge between £150 and £200 but it is not something we do much.

EyeballsintheSky · 10/02/2009 23:24

Jasper could I hijack for a second while you're here

I went to the dentist after a gap of about 20 years and had a few extractions at the back. Now he is saying I need implants but I can't see that I do. You can't see gaps, it doesn't bother me when eating as the teeth were broken (yuck, I know!) so hardly there anyway. Is there any reason why I would need implants or is he trying his luck (private)?

Sorry for hijack.

jasper · 10/02/2009 23:24

I just read your dentist said £200 for a crown.

That is most def NOT the NHS fee.

Was that a white (tooth coloured ) crown on a molar? In which case it is not NHS.

The NHS fees are set by the government . We have no say in them at all.

In answer to your question" can NHS dentists chose not to offer some treatments on the NHS ?"

Emphatically , NO!
Not if they have accepted you onto their NHS list.

However if you want something that is not on the long list of authorised NHS treatment items (eg white crowns on molars, large white fillings on back teeth, bleaching)
then the dentist can offer it at any price they choose but they must make it very clear it is outwith the NHS.

shonaspurtle · 10/02/2009 23:26

Ah, ok. Mine needed root treatment and then to be built up to a point in order to fit a crown (there wasn't much of it left). So presumably that all mounts up.

Faith restored in dentist.

jasper · 10/02/2009 23:27

Eyeballs if the gaps do not bother you there is absolutely no reason on God's green earth why you should get implants!

shonaspurtle · 10/02/2009 23:27

I think that was the wrong tooth thread

EyeballsintheSky · 10/02/2009 23:30

Thanks, that's what I thought. It's something I'll consider in the future but he seemed to be fairly insistent and I'm not in a position to do it at the moment, especially not after he scalped me for the last lot of treatment. Still, my own fault I guess

Thanks!

jasper · 10/02/2009 23:34

root treatment and crown on a molar would indeed be about £200.
Whew!

shonaspurtle · 10/02/2009 23:34

Eyeballs, I missed your post...

Original poster
MrsMuddle · 11/02/2009 20:35

Thanks all. Molar would need built up and root treatment too, so would be £200 or so.

I had my eyes tested on the same day, and I need new glasses, which are also £200 or so,

The perils of hitting 40!

However, I'm seriously thinking about hanging off on the glasses (I have got glasses already, and I can see through them, so not a priority) and getting a crown done.

I'm slighly concerned that getting an extraction would be the start of the slippery slope and I'd end up as a "toothless old crone"(thanks, DH!)

Thanks for your advice Japser and SS.

OP posts:
stleger · 11/02/2009 20:49

I got mine crowned 13 years ago - go for it! (About 700 euros in Ireland though)

Eve34 · 11/02/2009 21:12

I had a back tooth out on the bottom, was offered root canal and really couldn't afford the price, I don't miss it at all and so far it is the only one I have had to have taken out, but am sure they will all be heading the same way at some point....

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