Dental Crown on front teeth

[crayon3448]

After visiting my dentist for a cleaning, she said I need to get 2 of my teeth crowned. It's the front tooth and the one immediately to the right of it, so 2 out of my 4 front teeth. It's not unexpected as I had root canals done on them about 7 years ago after they got infected.

-The dentist mentioned that some people who have their front teeth done choose to have all 4 done so that they look the same, however she doesn't think it's necessary (and with a copay of over $300 per tooth, it's quite a bit of extra money). Has anyone had experience with the front teeth?

-If I want to get my teeth whitened, should I do it now before the crown? This leads to the worry that over time my natural teeth may change color, and because it's the front teeth it will be noticeable, if I only get 2 of the 4 teeth crowned.

Overall I'm just apprehensive about it- not the actual work, but the long term. Remembering not to bite into things and also I'm a nail biter (I've tried to stop many many times) and I won't be able to do that as I don't want to ruin the crown. Just really worried I will ruin it somehow. I will call and ask the office my questions, too, but wanted some experiences of anyone who has had this done.

 

[RadioNate]

I had all 6 in front done and as soon as I get extra money I think I'm having 2 more done just for cosmetic purposes.

Whiten first. I bite with mine all the time, I also have bridges. I kinda can't NOT bite with them. Get a night guard. I haven't ruined my crowns, I've worn all the enamel off the bottom teeth from grinding up against the crown. So someday, those will have to be crowned too!

 

[Feralpeg]

When I was a teen, I had a root canal on one of my front teeth. Over time, the tooth became brittle. When I was 40, during a trip to WDW, I broke the tooth on a Mickey Premium Bar. They tried to cap it, but the cap kept coming off. In the end, the dentist did a bridge using that tooth and the smaller tooth next to it. No problem.

Over time, my other front tooth has darkened. I am very aware of this. I am considering having it capped so it will match the cap on my other front tooth.

OP, it did take years for my tooth to change color. If you would rather not cap them all now, I don't think it would be a problem. Just know that, someday, you may feel the need to cap the others.

 

[skylizard]

DH had a front tooth crowned. His dentist gave him a whitening kit to use for a week before his crown was done.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

After visiting my dentist for a cleaning, she said I need to get 2 of my teeth crowned. It's the front tooth and the one immediately to the right of it, so 2 out of my 4 front teeth. It's not unexpected as I had root canals done on them about 7 years ago after they got infected.

-The dentist mentioned that some people who have their front teeth done choose to have all 4 done so that they look the same, however she doesn't think it's necessary (and with a copay of over $300 per tooth, it's quite a bit of extra money). Has anyone had experience with the front teeth?

-If I want to get my teeth whitened, should I do it now before the crown? This leads to the worry that over time my natural teeth may change color, and because it's the front teeth it will be noticeable, if I only get 2 of the 4 teeth crowned.

Overall I'm just apprehensive about it- not the actual work, but the long term. Remembering not to bite into things and also I'm a nail biter (I've tried to stop many many times) and I won't be able to do that as I don't want to ruin the crown. Just really worried I will ruin it somehow. I will call and ask the office my questions, too, but wanted some experiences of anyone who has had this done.

I had all 6 front teeth done at once (really bad teeth). I had it done over 40 years ago. Great dentist, gave me a glass of wine at the beginning of the drilling session. Only problem there was the water spray basically gave us both a shower as he drilled down the old teeth.

I've had one replaced (about 5-6 years ago) and a root canal in another one. And a different one has popped off twice, just had to have it recemented.

I was never told not to bite with them. The only issue I have with biting is the edges of the teeth (crowns)aren't as sharp as natural teeth, so biting through things isn't as clean as it would be with a sharper edge.

 

[ORMom2Four]

I had all 6 front upper teeth crowned about 2 years ago. If I had any money or insurance (have NO dental insurance right now, ugh), I would do 1 more on each side. You can see that they are different than the crowns and they make me self conscious.

Yes, do whiten before getting the crowns. My dentist sold me a whitening kit (Colgate) and it did NOTHING at all to whiten my teeth. I bought a whitening gel on Amazon (35% bleach gel), and the results were AMAZING. It's been 2 years, and they have stayed white!

If you have or can get the money to do at least 6 of them do it now. Three hundred dollars per tooth is a bargain for a crown, and you may not have the money or insurance to do it later.

 

[CaoilinnsMom]

I have crowns on my front 2 teeth, I did have one of them done earlier than needed but I knew it was coming because the enamel was cracked all the way through. I did them both at the same time, so they would match. I would not crown a tooth unless it needed it. I can't see purposefully damaging a good tooth, unless it is a major cosmetic issue. I would just do the ones you need…just my 2 cents.

 

[Nohal]

I had the 6 top teeth crowned at the same time almost 40yrs ago. My insurance company only approved 5 crowns but I had the 6th one done so they would all be the same. I now have to have 1 front tooth redone and will have both front teeth done at the same time so they look the same. If you can afford to have the 4 done I would do it so they all look the same to me it would be money well spent. I have never had a problem with biting into anything and the crowns never stopped me from eating anything.

 

[indygirl99]

After visiting my dentist for a cleaning, she said I need to get 2 of my teeth crowned. It's the front tooth and the one immediately to the right of it, so 2 out of my 4 front teeth. It's not unexpected as I had root canals done on them about 7 years ago after they got infected.

-The dentist mentioned that some people who have their front teeth done choose to have all 4 done so that they look the same, however she doesn't think it's necessary (and with a copay of over $300 per tooth, it's quite a bit of extra money). Has anyone had experience with the front teeth?

-If I want to get my teeth whitened, should I do it now before the crown? This leads to the worry that over time my natural teeth may change color, and because it's the front teeth it will be noticeable, if I only get 2 of the 4 teeth crowned.

Overall I'm just apprehensive about it- not the actual work, but the long term. Remembering not to bite into things and also I'm a nail biter (I've tried to stop many many times) and I won't be able to do that as I don't want to ruin the crown. Just really worried I will ruin it somehow. I will call and ask the office my questions, too, but wanted some experiences of anyone who has had this done.

Ask the dentist if she will give you a break on the copay if you get them all done at the same time.

 

[toofache]

Ask the dentist if she will give you a break on the copay if you get them all done at the same time.

This is insurance fraud.