Q.

Subject : NHS or Private Crowns ?

My dentist has described some differences :
NHS = ‘flat’, unnaturaly opaque white with metal eventually showing at gum edge as I age.
Private = Translucent white, MUCH more like MY real teeth.

But I was surprised he couldn’t show me examples of Private ones to compare with my existing ageing NHS ones (saying I could only really tell once they are in MY mouth – a bit late I thought !)

Its very hard to justify the extraordinary extra cost (as I need 4 Crowns) when I’ve never been ‘teeth-conscious’ before.

Matching my existing yellowy teeth OR suffering (or risking) whitening them is another new issue I’m sure I must decide before choosing crowns.

Can you help me make these important and expensive decisions ?

Q.

I will be having a crown fitted to a molar at my nhs dentist. What type of materials will he use?

Q.

Hi
is there any difference in performance between the NHS metal crowns or a metal core ceramic one, or is it solely appearance? Does more tooth have to be drilled away in either case?

thanks

Q.

I have had an nhs porcelain crown fitted and it has now come away from the gum and there is a black rim showing as well as a gap between my gum and crown. My dentist informs me that if i have another NHS crown the same thing will happen and i need a private crown at a cost of £595 .. Is this correct?

Q.

i have really bad dismangled teeth top and bottom, and would like a quick fix not BRACES i think i implants or crown and bridges ,can i get this on NHS

Q.
my front six teeth are full of fillings and stained etc ,ive got a real complex about my smile,im a nhs patient all i want to know, is my dentist allowed to crown six teeth using the nhs,is he able to use so much nhs money on me as i know its quite expensive,or is he only allowed to use a certain amount of nhs money on me thank you ever so much,

Q.
My 17 year old daughter has been told she needs to have several crowns fitted, due to decay. However, her NHS dentist refuses to fit them until she is 18 or 19. Is there any reason they cannot be fitted now?,

Q.
I am registered with an n.h.s. dentist who is practicing in a verymodern surgery. I am considering having my front crowns replaced (maybe 6) after about 20yrs. He has quoted me £400 each for Procera replacements which will obviously be private treatment. What I would like to ask is would I get better results if I went to a private dentist or is he just as qualified even though an n.h.s. dentist. Does being an n.h.s.dentist mean he’s not competent enough to be in private practice yet because I don’t want him practising on me. Thanks in anticipation of reply.,

Q.
I recently visited an NHS dentist as an old crown had come off (root filling still intact), also the outer side of my left upper back tooth had snapped off on its outer side. He advised me that the crowned tooth had decay below the gum line, making it unsuitable for another crown to be fitted. He explained that my options were to either have an extraction, or have the tooth sealed off at gum level. I explained that I was anxious not to have another gap left (I already have one missing tooth due to it breaking down at root level which puts strain on the gum and two teeth either side)and enquired about a bridge being fitted. However, on asking this he appeared evasive and uninterested, stating that because it was a back tooth there was no real need for a bridge, that this would be purely for cosmetic reasons. Am I entitled to bridgework under the NHS? When I mentioned that I would assist by paying privately, he seemed more interested. I have read up on implantology as I have considered this as an alternative. I understand that this involves a CT scan. Could you explain whether the entire body is scanned or is it limited to the area in which the work would be carried out?

Q.
I lost my 2 top front teeth in an accident 13 years ago at the age of 17, I have wornthe same removeable plate ever since. There are no roots here, nothing, just gum and I wear the plate in and out every day. I do not know what my options are, is it bad to have had the same plate for so many years? Can I get something fixed?- I do not have the option to pay out for anything unfortunately it has to be NHS : (