Can we talk crowns?

[holycow]

I mean the ones for your teeth! I'm supposed to have my 1st one put on tomorrow and I have to choose which crown I want. The top of the line is of course 1300$$$ and will last longer than I will. The lease expensive is only supposed to last 5 years! (WTheck?) and is 700$

Does anyone have any recommendations? I don't really want to go through this again in 5 years but I don't really want to pay what they are asking.

Holycow

 

[tar heel]

I have several porcelain over metal (not sure what kind, but we're talking "standard" crowns) that are over 20 years old. I don't know what kind lasts only five years, but I wouldn't do that -- much too much trouble to have them done.

 

[tiggersmom2]

It depends on where the teeth are located. For anterior teeth (front teeth) I would suggest all porcelain crowns.....these are the most expensive but if any metal are put on these crowns it WILL eventually show through and they are not asthetically pleasing.

For molars or premolars (the back teeth) I would recommend PFM (porcelain fused to metal) or gold crowns. PFMs will look just like your tooth but you need the metal back here to reinforce the crown b/c your biting strength will usually crack an all porcelain crown. Gold crowns are the ideal crown for molar teeth b/c they will not crack and will last a long, long time.....however, some patients do not like the idea of a gold tooth.

BTW - I'm a dental hygienist.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I've never heard of a crown that only lasts 5 years. That would be so not worth it for me in terms of having to go back and do it again so soon. And then what, do you pay another $700 at that time for another 5 years, or do you then pay for the permanent one? Seems like the cheaper one would turn out to be more expensive in the long run!

Good luck!

 

[rascalmom]

It depends on where the teeth are located. For anterior teeth (front teeth) I would suggest all porcelain crowns.....these are the most expensive but if any metal are put on these crowns it WILL eventually show through and they are not asthetically pleasing.

For molars or premolars (the back teeth) I would recommend PFM (porcelain fused to metal) or gold crowns. PFMs will look just like your tooth but you need the metal back here to reinforce the crown b/c your biting strength will usually crack an all porcelain crown. Gold crowns are the ideal crown for molar teeth b/c they will not crack and will last a long, long time.....however, some patients do not like the idea of a gold tooth.

BTW - I'm a dental hygienist.

This is EXACTLY what dh would tell his patients. There is such a thing as a temporary crown, but not sure what they are referring to when they say 5 year vs. 20 year crown. Does the more expensive one include a build-up or a root canal?

 

[nuke]

I have a porcelain over metal crown on my back molar that I've had for at least 8 years. Just last week a small portion of the procelain broke off of it but I didn't need it replaced because the metal is still there and in excellent shape. At least that's what my dentist told me.

 

[holycow]

Thanks for the replies. I won't know until tomorrow if I need the root canal or not (lucky me!) lol I'm planning for the worst. They said I would need a build up of the tooth as I had a fillling there that cracked.


I was shocked that they even had a 5 yr. crown. I had never heard of such a thing.

Thanks so much!

Holycow

 

[bbangel]

My mom has several crowns. She has really bad teeth (long story). She swears by gold crowns. The oldest of hers has been on for over 25 years.

 

[Micca]

I got my first crown about a year ago, and I chose gold. It's on one of my very back teeth so no one really sees the bling. My dentist recommended the gold because I like to chew ice. He told me the porcelain would eventually crack, but the gold would probably outlast me!

 

[LindaG4458]

I have numerous porcelain-over-gold crowns, all many years old, and have had no problems with them. I have one composite crown on a tooth about half way back on the upper right quadrant. It looks terrific, has worn well, but the tooth has been temperature sensitive since it was put on five or six years ago. It has diminished somewhat over time but there is still some sensitivity. If I had to choose again I would have the porcelain-over-gold in that spot. As I remember, there wasn't any difference in price at the time.

Once, long ago, because of a dental emergency, I had a stainless steel temporary crown installed. That might be the cheaper crown offered to the OP. It was OK for the short term but there was just as much prep work for the tooth as for the more expensive crown.

 

[holycow]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their replies in helping me decide
what to do. It was on my #5 tooth so I had the porelain one put on. Actually it is called Lava. and the good news.....I didn't have to have the root canal!!!! Wha hooo!!!!!!!!!!! Thrilled about that!

Thanks so much everyone.


Lisa