Dental question...

I might need to get a crown on one of my back teeth. Has anyone had this done? Is it a bad procedure?What do they do? I think I had this done on one of my baby teeth when I was little, but I'm not sure. If it's a bad one, then would it be better just to get it pulled? It's the last tooth on my upper left side. It's not like I'd miss it or anything. Does anyone know how much it costs to get a crown and how much it costs to get a tooth pulled? I know what my insurance covers, but I don't know the cost. Thanks!

Re: Dental question...

I was a dental assistant in college so I know what a crown is but the prices depend on your dentist & insurance.

Basically your tooth is filled (for whatever reason, maybe you had a root canal) and then shaped into a peg. An impression is taken of your mouth. That part is usually just gross but not at all painful. They'll put a tray of goop in your mouth. From that impression a crown will be made to sit over your now smaller tooth. A temporary one will be made by your dentist until a nice porcelain one is created by a lab.

This is definitely better than pulling your tooth. If you have your tooth pulled you will have to have a bridge made (basically crowns on the surrounding teeth with a covering over the area where the pulled tooth used to be) or an implant. Implants are not covered at all by any insurance policies as far as I know.

Hope this helped some. As long as you get novacaine, getting a crown is not so bad.

ETS: I said that the crown is better than pulling but if money is no object than an implant may not be bad. I don't know so much about that because they didn't do them in the office I worked in so I never saw it done.

Re: Dental question...

I have a mouthful of gold crowns and they are well worth it if you have a good dentist who does it right. I can't tell any difference between the crowns and my real teeth unless I look. They last about 20-30 years I think, if you take care to make sure you're not getting decay along the gum line.

It's not any more painful than regular dental work, with novacaine, but it's a nusance becuase it takes a few visits - 2 or 3 for prep and molds, and you get a temporary for a week or two until the crown is made, then it's installed.

I think they are running between $450 and $600 these days. I think they can do porcelain crowns too, which may cost a bit less, but don't last as long.

Re: Dental question...

I have 3 crowns...all from root canals...I know each root canal was about $400 or so...


its not bad at all...if you have a good dentist...the worst part IMHO is the novacine waring off...it always feels so funky

Re: Dental question...

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Posted by Karen H

I can't tell any difference between the crowns and my real teeth unless I look.

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this is so true...the first week you can...but after that no way...I even have trouble looking...since mine are porcelain

Re: Dental question...

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Posted by Karen H

... but it's a nusance becuase it takes a few visits - 2 or 3 for prep and molds, and you get a temporary for a week or two until the crown is made, then it's installed.

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So true. Sometimes the 'final' crown doesn't fit right and it has to go back to the lab. It may take a few visits to get it just right.

Re: Dental question...

I had one done.. it wasn't covered though..

Re: Dental question...

I have several posts and crowns, the result of having root canals to save my teeth. Much better than having the tooth pulled, imo.

Re: Dental question...

Ive got a gold crown.. last tooth upper right. It's great. Firstly on one SEES it.. and it's nice to know I have kept my tooth.

My lower left is a root canal and I regret it every single day of my life The gum area around it is extra sensitive and no one can figured out how to stop the pain.