I don't know whether to trust this dentist's recommendation for a crown.
I don't know whether to trust this dentist's recommendation for a crown.
Added: May 09, 2006 - 11:41 AM
By: susiebel@hotmail.com, Oakland, CA
Need Dentist / Specialist:
No
Provide Cost Estimate:
No
X-rays Available:
Yes
Case Summary
Crown
Teeth:
Last Full Mouth X-Ray: nov 2005
Last Cleaning: may 2006
Case Description
I just went to a new dentist in Berkeley. On the first visit, the dentist recommended that i see an orthodontist for braces, get at least one crown, and implied i might have tmj because I have a click in my jaw that I've had for years. This seems excessive to me. Especially since no other dentist has recommended any of the above. I have an appointment with them to get an old filling removed and get a crown put on, and it may be true that i need it, since the filling is old, there's a margin of open space in the tooth, and a hairline fracture on the top of the tooth. But I don't necessarily trust these people, since their original assessment seemed so excessive to me. Can you give me some feedback?
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Reply: I don't know whether to trust this dentist's recommendation for a crown.
added: May 09, 2006 - 12:08 PM
Please keep an open mind. Most dentists tend to under-diagnose, being "conservative" and sensitive to the patient's budget. If it were cancer, you would want it treated early. You may have had these problems for a long time and your new dentist is simply telling you what the situation is. If your orthodontic problems are left untreated, it can make your TMJ worse. If your TMJ is left untreated, you may get headaches, injured teeth, even dizziness. If the fractures are left untreated, you may get a terrible toothache then lose the tooth. I am frequently asked the question, "Why didn't my last dentist tell me this?" It's a very good question and impossible to answer because I wasn't there. It sounds like your new dentist is doing you a favor and may save you from dental problems and big expenses in the long run. To be sure, get a 2nd opinion.
Reply: I don't know whether to trust this dentist's recommendation for a crown.
added: May 09, 2006 - 12:59 PM
Oftentimes with a tooth with a defective old filling, there is a range of treatment choices from a simple new filling to a full crown. In between these choices, you may consider an inlay (a laboratory-fabricated filling--ceramic or gold) or an onlay (a type of partial crown that preserves healthy tooth structure--ceramic or gold). Most of the time if there is a hairline fracture and the tooth is asymptomatic, one of these more conservative treatments is possible and, in many cases, more advisable since valuable tooth structure may be preserved. It is generally good to remove the old filling and any decay first before making a final decision on the restoration.As for your TMJ, most of the time an asymptomatic click is not something that is treated. If it is accompanied by pain or by evidence of wear on the teeth from grinding, then it is addressed, most often by a protective nightguard or adjustments to your bite.Orthodontic treatment is oftentimes a cosmetic choice. But, there are also situations when it could have a very beneficial effect on the long-term health of your teeth by make the teeth more cleansable as well by idealizing your bite. These benefits should be discussed with a dentist or orthodontist, and a decision can be made by you after weighing the risks of non-treatment vs. the benefits of treatment.Hope this helps.
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