Had a crown for 10 years on #4. Found slight decay via x-ray, dentist removed
crown to fix and did a composite filling. He attempted to replace the crown, but
then said that the porcelain fell off the crown. I didn't have the funds for a
new crown, so he did a temp crown (he indicated that the cost would be minimal,
then charged me $275 for the temp (about half what it would have been for a perm
crown with my insurance - my fault for not asking, but I digress....). That was
last May, and the temp is starting to fail.....my question is - would it be safe
to go bare, since the underlying tooth has been filled and thus protected? I
thought I could, as long as I didn't mind the aesthetics of it all, but the
hygienist said no way, since the tooth (having been previously prepped for the
original crown) is now too weak to stand on its own and be unprotected....I
couldn't ask the dentist, as he was "too busy" to come talk to me......

What's the truth? I already favor that side since it's a temp, and I can
continue to be careful if I need to....is it safe, or do I need to get a loan
and do the crown?

Thanks for any help. I need a few years b4 I will be able to afford a new
crown.

On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:28:48 -0500, wrote:

>Had a crown for 10 years on #4. Found slight decay via x-ray, dentist removed
>crown to fix and did a composite filling. He attempted to replace the crown, but
>then said that the porcelain fell off the crown. I didn't have the funds for a
>new crown, so he did a temp crown (he indicated that the cost would be minimal,
>then charged me $275 for the temp (about half what it would have been for a perm
>crown with my insurance - my fault for not asking, but I digress....). That was
>last May, and the temp is starting to fail.....my question is - would it be safe
>to go bare, since the underlying tooth has been filled and thus protected? I
>thought I could, as long as I didn't mind the aesthetics of it all, but the
>hygienist said no way, since the tooth (having been previously prepped for the
>original crown) is now too weak to stand on its own and be unprotected....I
>couldn't ask the dentist, as he was "too busy" to come talk to me......
>
>What's the truth? I already favor that side since it's a temp, and I can
>continue to be careful if I need to....is it safe, or do I need to get a loan
>and do the crown?
>
>Thanks for any help. I need a few years b4 I will be able to afford a new
>crown.

Isn't there anyone who wants to comment? Wondering if my post even made it to
the group.....although it shows on my end....

'Going bare' is not a great idea, but not from a lack of strength.

Get a pre-fab stainless steel crown if you can't afford the good
one right now.

JMO,
D

wrote:

>
> On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:28:48 -0500, wrote:
>
>

>
>
> Isn't there anyone who wants to comment? Wondering if my post even made it to
> the group.....although it shows on my end....

On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:10:19 -0600, Dartos <> wrote:

>'Going bare' is not a great idea, but not from a lack of strength.

Then why is it not a good idea? Infection, etc? Just curious....

>Get a pre-fab stainless steel crown if you can't afford the good
>one right now.
>
>JMO,
>D

Thanks for the reply. Is there a place where I can go to buy such a crown, or do
I ask the dentist to do it? I hope that's not a silly question, but when you say
"pre-fab" it sounds like you mean they are already made, so can you actually buy
them in a store? Or do you mean they are already made but in different sizes so
that the dentist would need to size one to my particular fit?

Can you give me a ballpark cost of one of these? Or the appropriate code? I can
then look for it on my co-pay schedule.

Thanks again for the help.

On Feb 17, 11:24*pm, indig...@help.com wrote:

> On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:10:19 -0600, Dartos <tuthjoc...@myturbonet.com> wrote:

>
> Then why is it not a good idea? Infection, etc? Just curious....
>

>

>
> Thanks for the reply. Is there a place where I can go to buy such a crown, or do
> I ask the dentist to do it? I hope that's not a silly question, but when you say
> "pre-fab" it sounds like you mean they are already made, so can you actually buy
> them in a store? Or do you mean they are already made but in different sizes so
> that the dentist would need to size one to my particular fit?
>
> Can you give me a ballpark cost of one of these? *Or the appropriate code? I can
> then look for it on my co-pay schedule.
>
> Thanks again for the help.

ADA Code D2931 If it is covered by your plan, beware that your plan
may deny benefits for 5 years for ANY OTHER crown on the tooth i.e. a
gold or porcelain final crown.

On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:25:12 -0800 (PST), tenthmed <> wrote:

>On Feb 17, 11:24*pm, indig...@help.com wrote:

>
>ADA Code D2931 If it is covered by your plan, beware that your plan
>may deny benefits for 5 years for ANY OTHER crown on the tooth i.e. a
>gold or porcelain final crown.

Thanks to both of you. That would cost me $131, which would be tough but better
than the $700 or so the regular crown would cost me. It sucks to be me, since
once you add each procedure I get done to that tooth, I'll surely end up
spending more in the long run. Already spent $275 for the temp, now $131, etc,
etc, etc.

Would that SS crown have a chance of lasting five years? Once again, just so I
understand, what is the reason I have to cover it? Is it as the hygienist said -
that it is no longer strong enough? What could happen? Loss of the tooth?

Thanks again.

On Feb 19, 7:48*am, indig...@help.com wrote:

> On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:25:12 -0800 (PST), tenthmed <tenth...@gmail.com> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>
> Thanks to both of you. That would cost me $131, which would be tough but better
> than the $700 or so the regular crown would cost me. It sucks to be me, since
> once you add each procedure I get done to that tooth, I'll surely end up
> spending more in the long run. Already spent $275 for the temp, now $131,etc,
> etc, etc.
>
> Would that SS crown have a chance of lasting five years? *Once again, just so I
> understand, what is the reason I have to cover it? Is it as the hygienistsaid -
> that it is no longer strong enough? What could happen? Loss of the tooth?
>
> Thanks again.

If you go "bare", the spacing between the prepared tooth and the
adjacent tooth will close until the prepared tooth touches the
adjacent tooth. Also, the upper tooth will drop downward along with
the prepared tooth moving upward, with an overall resulting in a
problem that cannot be fixed without having orthodontic tooth movement
to regain the lost space that is necessary to fabricate a crown. The
stainless steel crown will fit like socks on a rooster, but it can buy
you some time. That said, over time (? 2 - 5 yrs?) the ill-fitting
stainless steel crown will allow for bacteria to hide between the
crown and the tooth resulting in tooth decay, gum disease, or both.
Another 2 edged sword if you will. The best treatment is to get a well
fitting/adapted final crown. You should google "stainless steel
crowns".

On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:56:04 -0800 (PST), tenthmed <> wrote:

>On Feb 19, 7:48*am, indig...@help.com wrote:

>
>If you go "bare", the spacing between the prepared tooth and the
>adjacent tooth will close until the prepared tooth touches the
>adjacent tooth. Also, the upper tooth will drop downward along with
>the prepared tooth moving upward, with an overall resulting in a
>problem that cannot be fixed without having orthodontic tooth movement
>to regain the lost space that is necessary to fabricate a crown. The
>stainless steel crown will fit like socks on a rooster, but it can buy
>you some time. That said, over time (? 2 - 5 yrs?) the ill-fitting
>stainless steel crown will allow for bacteria to hide between the
>crown and the tooth resulting in tooth decay, gum disease, or both.
>Another 2 edged sword if you will. The best treatment is to get a well
>fitting/adapted final crown. You should google "stainless steel
>crowns".

Thanks for the information.