What Would Be The Cheapest Way Of Improving My Molars? I’m Not Sure Crowns Are The Answer.
Q.
Hi Marcus. I have two missing incisors and when I was young an orthodontist attempted to correct this by closing the gaps with braces. About 10 years ago my NHS dentist at the time evened off the canines with white fillings to look more like incisors. I have quite a bad under-bite and feel that as I get older I don’t have enough teeth to fill out my face. My dentist here had suggested I could improve the look of my teeth by putting crowns on the premolars which have amalgam fillings and which are slightly visible when I smile. This seems an expensive way of not making a lot of difference. Because I’ve never been able to afford cosmetic dentistry I’ve never pursued any further advice but I’d like to know if there is anything I could do and what it might cost.
Hi Marcus. I have two missing incisors and when I was young an orthodontist attempted to correct this by closing the gaps with braces. About 10 years ago my NHS dentist at the time evened off the canines with white fillings to look more like incisors. I have quite a bad under-bite and feel that as I get older I don’t have enough teeth to fill out my face. My dentist here had suggested I could improve the look of my teeth by putting crowns on the premolars which have amalgam fillings and which are slightly visible when I smile. This seems an expensive way of not making a lot of difference. Because I’ve never been able to afford cosmetic dentistry I’ve never pursued any further advice but I’d like to know if there is anything I could do and what it might cost.
A.
Hello. Lateral incisors are the most commonly missing teeth and is something I see and treat a lot. If you are concerned as the actual benefit that the treatment recommended by your dentist would provide, you could ask then to create a diagnostic wax up. This is very simple and relatively inexpensive to create and involves taking moulds of your teeth. The moulds are then sent to a laboratory, where in wax, the proposed shape of the new crowns is produced. You will then be able to see for yourself whether you like the proposed changes or not and would be in a better position to decide whether to commit to having treatment, or not. I routinely do this for my patients. I really hope you find this helpful. Kind regards, Marcus Gambroudes.
Hello. Lateral incisors are the most commonly missing teeth and is something I see and treat a lot. If you are concerned as the actual benefit that the treatment recommended by your dentist would provide, you could ask then to create a diagnostic wax up. This is very simple and relatively inexpensive to create and involves taking moulds of your teeth. The moulds are then sent to a laboratory, where in wax, the proposed shape of the new crowns is produced. You will then be able to see for yourself whether you like the proposed changes or not and would be in a better position to decide whether to commit to having treatment, or not. I routinely do this for my patients. I really hope you find this helpful. Kind regards, Marcus Gambroudes.
Hi Marcus,
Thank you for replying to my question. My dentist has already taken moulds and that did improve the look of the molars. I just wondered if there is anything else which can be done for my teeth?
Thanks. Sue
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