Dentist opinion on my crown please

[Gallen]

Hi guys - and thanks for looking at my thread!

...I've had a bit of a nightmare to say the least with my front tooth.

You may recall that just after christmas I went for an emergency appointment at a butcher-of-a-dentist where I recieved some terrible treatment. The guy "fixed" in a new post in place of old as I was going to let him replace the existing crown (which was leaking). However due to what was nothing else other than brutal treatment I cancelled the proposed crown (I'm no wimp at a the dentists but this was the stuff that nightmares are made of!).

Anyhow, I have just got around to having a new crown put in at my existing dentist (not this other guy). I have to admit I'm not pleased with it to say the least so I am after some balanced opinions and advice please.

Scenario:-
I visited my existing dentist with whom I am a private patient.
I explained what had happened over the phone and was told to come in for hime to take a look. I explained that I just had a post there and that he didnt really need to have a "look" - just to do moulds and replace the crown but I was told he needed to look. I then turned up at the appointment and 10 minutes later and £50 quid lighter in the pocket I was told that I would need 2 x appointments for moulds and a new crown - the new crown being £390. (thanks for that!).

I agreed and booked 2 x further appointments. 1 x for Algenate moulds and 1 x for the fitting. All good.

I had the moulds done and a temp fitted. It didnt last long but they never do in my experience. He was happy to try refixing the temp in and didnt charge for that and it lasted a couple of days extra before popping out again! (forgotton what it feels like to have a wobbly tooth - always pushing it with your tongue!).

Anyhow....
I turned up for my new tooth on Friday.
He fitted it (and was happy enough to repair a couple of other fillings free of charge as I mentioned before that I kept getting fruit pips stuck in them!). This was nice of him.

Anyway, he finished up the new crown and that was that.
I mentioned that it felt a bit "big" and that I could really feel it when I closed my teeth together - However he said that he had taken it back as far as he could.
I was a bit miffed when he then started to file away a bit of my lower teeth which I have never had a problem with in an attempt to get my bite closer - however it didnt fix the problem and it still feels like I have a lump in my mouth 2 days later (which is the larger crown) even though he said I would get used to it.

However - when I left the dentist I had not yet actually seen the tooth.
I got in my car and looked in the mirror - I was dismayed that it not only "felt big" but it was prominantly sticking out at a totally different angle from the neighbouring tooth plus it was also a slightly longer. It's been fitted in a way which makes the centre gap in my front teeth bigger than its ever been before. I went straight back in to the dentists and said I was not happy with it. (I am guessing they either buggered up the moulds or something?????????).

Anyway the Dentist agreen that he "could see what I meant" (So why did he let me leave???).
I said what I thought and that I was not happy with it.
He said that the only option was for him to get them to make another crown and insturct them to make it smaller. He would then have to cut off this crown... My response was that I am not happy with what they have made nor how its fitted so do what you have to do. He said that it had to be right so he took new moulds with the crown in place and I am booked in for 2 weeks time.

I have taken a picture of the crown from inside my mouth - Sorry about the state of my teeth (they have been knocked around quite a bit).



...Is it normal for a £390 crown to have a silver backing to it? (or is this a cheapy job?). Personally I dont think it's good enough but I am obviously no expert.

What would you advise as I am very disappointed.

I just want a nice tooth again and I want it to be comfortable and cosmetically matching

Thanks,

G

Edited by Gallen on Sunday 19th June 20:56

[Driller]

Sorry about your hassles Gallen. The metal backing is perfectly legitimate as you may have a very "tight" bite meaning there is not much space for the thickness of the crown. If he's happy to rectify the problem for no further charge then that's a good thing, from what you said about doing some stuff for free he sounds like he's fair enough.

What I would suggest is that when the crown is ready the next time, ask him to pop it in with no cement and have a look in a hand mirror before he sticks it in with permanent cement. I fix all my crowns and bridges for one week with a temporary cement that way when they come back to have it permanently fixed if there's a problem we can send it to the lab for modification.

You didn't make it clear if the crown was permanently fixed or not, by the sound of it it was.

[Gallen]

Thank you for your reply - appreciated! Yes it's permanently fixed in.

I have to say I have no other problems with the dentist I use but was a little disappointed with the crown - That said I am happy to accept it's as just one of those things. I had to check for piece of mind, that's all.

Glad the crown (with the silver showing) is as to be expected... I just wondered as the one that was there didn't have that.

Hopefully the guy will be able to help me get this fixed!

G.

G.

[Driller]

Keep us updated and like I said I'm sure he'll be quite happy to let you see it in a hand mirror before he puts it in permanently. It is after all a front tooth so quite important from an aesthetics POV.