Re: Yet another crown question

"Jacob" <spam@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

>As you can guess, it's really impossible to give you any meaningful advice
>without examining your mouth. That said, however, it seems like you should
>get another opinion.

Sounds like it.

> Did you specifically ask your dentist WHY the crowns
>don't stay on? I could understand an occasional problem, but you seem to be
>have more than your share!

Of course. His explanation is that over time the cement ages and
eventually gives way and one can't expect more than ten or so years of
life from the bond. Obviously that doesn't apply to something he's
done a few weeks earlier but when he has to replace them he doesn't
charge me. I suppose you could call it warranty service. Why though do
they fail? Well, I can't really ask him. I'd be saying: "Did you screw
up again?" You have to understand there's more than just an arm's
length relationship here.

He must be in his seventies, has scoliosis (limps badly), shakes like
a leaf, has few clients, is only open 1 full day and four mornings a
week, and all his equipment has seen better days. As examples of the
shaking, last time he punctured my lip with some sharp instrument
drawing blood, he drops his attention when he finishes grinding which
leads to him often catching the adjacent tooth as he withdraws the
grinder, and he can't seem to place the crown properly (isn't there
some sort of instrument for this) and often drops it into my throat (I
haven't choked yet though).

On the other hand he supposedly teaches at the dental school
(shouldn't this indicate he's up to date at least theoretically),
doesn't wear gloves or a hazmat suit (neither he nor his other
clientele are likely to be infected with anything), is easy to get an
appointment with (sometimes just "come on down"), is located
conveniently, and has been trained by me about some of my
peculiarities such as no cotton on the tongue side (I have a very
quick gag reflex), no cleaning until everything is in perfect shape
(you break it, you fix it), and no snotty-nose hygienists (he doesn't
have one anyway). Oh yeah and he's cheap.

I've been going to him for around twenty years and although we don't
actually socialize outside of the dental office he and his wife
(receptionist) are sort of friends. He discusses his grand kids, his
new car, his back problems etc. I'd feel like I was stabbing him in
the back if I went elsewhere especially as I don't think he's exactly
wealthy.

Still eventually I'm going to have to change. Is this crown the last
straw...?

> If you do need to have your tooth extracted,
>rest assured that it most definitely should/will be painless! So, that's
>one less thing you need to worry about.

So you say. I've never had a painless visit to the dentist (any
dentist!). Oops, I lie. Once I just dropped off an insurance form <g>.

> As far as a dry socket is
>concerned, if you smoke, quit right now -- if you can't, at the very least
>don't smoke for several days after your tooth is extracted. Lastly,
>remember the decisions on treatment are up to YOU! Your dentist should give
>you all the treatment options available, as well as possible outcomes doing
>nothing. That way, you should be able to make an informed decision.

> Good
>luck!

Thanks.

><OneGoodGuy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:hprmf11qc7uv65c6fueqh6dnii00umhu4b@xxxxxxxxxx
>> I have lots of crowns (many gold) put in over many years but in the
>> last five or so years they've been coming out frequently. My dentist
>> glues them back in but this doesn't seem to last as long as the first
>> "gluing". In fact it's so bad that I have a near-permanent appointment
>> every couple of weeks for crown re-gluing. I had one particular crown
>> done about two months ago. It fell out the day before yesterday.
>> Another on the other side was just re-glued last week and it came out
>> last night. So now I have two waiting for re-gluing when the dentist
>> comes in and can see me (probably Friday or Saturday).
>>
>> Is the problem that he's not using good enough glue? Or that he
>> doesn't get the surfaces sufficiently smooth to mate exactly? Or what?
>> I've practically given up eating hard or chewy foods because of this
>> problem. The one that came out yesterday was while I was eating a
>> marshmallow -- how much softer can you get? -- and the one earlier in
>> the week while I was Waterpik-ing my teeth.
>>
>> The yesterday tooth is a particular problem because he's re-glued it
>> three or four times already and last time he said he'd give it one
>> more shot and if it didn't hold he'd have to pull the tooth. The tooth
>> doesn't hurt BTW -- none of them hurt because they're mostly dead. Now
>> this pulling worries me, not just because it's going to be
>> extraordinarily painful (I only remember having wisdom teeth pulled 40
>> years ago), but because it'll leave a gap which he'll probably want to
>> fill with a bridge -- I'm guessing but another dentist did this to my
>> wife. Why can't he just let the (all crooked and crowded anyway) other
>> teeth simply close up the space? Actually since it doesn't hurt why
>> doesn't he just cap the top (where the post hole is) and leave it in?
>>
>> Should I change dentists (my wife says it's because of his incompetent
>> gluing techniques) or if not should I refuse to allow him to pull it?
>> Or should I just let him pull it but refuse any bridge? Oh yeah, and I
>> hear that if he pulls it I want to watch for "dry socket". Any tips on
>> avoiding this?
>>
>> TIA.
>>
>

.

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