Assessing dentists skill and price

[Mike999]

I am 65 years old. Ihave two molars which developed cracks and have been breaking down for the pasttwo years and have been repaired (filled) several times and again, my nextoption is a crown. I am not concernedabout appearance (as they are molars and can't be seen).

1. What type of crown should I have?

2. How do I assess which dentists has the greatest skill forthe best price?

Thanks

PS I am in Liverpool UK

 

[Kim]

Not a dentist, so can't answer the one about what type of crown you should have, but what I would say is to e-mail/telephone as many dentists as you can with your questions, and see how they answer, then when you feel comfortable with your response(s) arrange to see them, and see how you feel when you go to the surgery and speak with the staff (if you are brave enough for that one, I still struggle) and see how you feel about the dentist.

Also there are pages on DFC with recommendations, it may be that you can find someone from there?

I wish you well with your search.

Kim

 

[letsconnect]

1. gold
2. very hard to judge for a layperson (unless you have dentist friends you can ask whose work they rate). We've had some recommendations for Andy Healy at Pall Mall dental clinic in Liverpool on this forum.

I'm not sure if you noticed the link at the top which says that the forum is supposed to be for people with dental fears/phobias only - you didn't mention dental fear in your post.

 

[Mike999]

I'm not sure if you noticed the link at the top which says that the forum is supposed to be for people with dental fears/phobias only - you didn't mention dental fear in your post.

Ah - you're right I didn't notice that but for the record my fear is of being ripped off by someone who doesn't have the skill to do a good job and who charges a lot of money for making a mess of my teeth.

Thanks for the advice and suggestion of gold.

 

[Dr. Daniel]

Hi

As letsconnect said, gold is indeed a very good material for crowns. The only disadvantage is its colour. Other than that it the best.

For choosing a good dentist in your neighberhood, you can search for experts. A prosthodontic is the specialist for crowns.

 

[jaime]

I agree with the others about getting gold. Everything I read points to gold being the best tooth material. I only wish I could get gold, but I already have so many "silver" fillings and have heard it's not good to mix metals in the mouth.

 

[carole]

HI Jaime, I just wanted to jump in here, your point of having silver and gold metals mixed in the mouth, I have a gold crown on a bottom back tooth, directly above it is a silver filling, on the other side of my mouth is a porcelain bridge backed with silver, I have had these for years with no problems.
Gold and silver mixed in the mouth is no problem, so you can still go with the gold crown if you wanted.
All the best

 

[comfortdentist]

HI Jaime, I just wanted to jump in here, your point of having silver and gold metals mixed in the mouth, I have a gold crown on a bottom back tooth, directly above it is a silver filling, on the other side of my mouth is a porcelain bridge backed with silver, I have had these for years with no problems.
Gold and silver mixed in the mouth is no problem, so you can still go with the gold crown if you wanted.
All the best

There is no problem mixing gold and silver in someone's mouth that was routine 30 years ago. If you dentists said that then you have a different problem.

My favorite alloy is a high gold/platinum if a person is willing to have it.

 

[De8934]

Ah - you're right I didn't notice that but for the record my fear is of being ripped off by someone who doesn't have the skill to do a good job and who charges a lot of money for making a mess of my teeth.

Thanks for the advice and suggestion of gold.

Hi, I have similar concerns besides others. I have seen a prosthodontist recently about a single implant. Very expensive and to add to my concerns he routinely sedates his patients, if they don't want sedation ,get charged for it anyway. I found that very worrying and decided not to have him treat me.

It is difficult to find a dentist with the skills but also dosen't rip you off. I'm thinking now after that experience bridgework would be better for me. My impression is that specialist dentists are not good at dealing with anxious patient, they just charge more.

De

 

[drhirst]

1. gold
2. very hard to judge for a layperson (unless you have dentist friends you can ask whose work they rate). We've had some recommendations for Andy Healy at Pall Mall dental clinic in Liverpool on this forum.

I'm not sure if you noticed the link at the top which says that the forum is supposed to be for people with dental fears/phobias only - you didn't mention dental fear in your post.

Hi Mike,

The fear of getting ripped off or overcharged is a very real fear. Dentistry is no different to anything else. There are good and bad dentists and all shades in between. It is almost impossible for a lay person to assess. I know who the good dentists in my local area are because I see their work and hear or their reputations on the grapevine. One tip is to see if the oral-maxillo facial surgeon in your local hospital is prepared to recommend anyone. Our local one did.
Having said that I would also recommend Andy Healy at Pall Mall. I spent a year on a course with him and had the chance to observe him treating patients. I was very impressed with his caring, competent and and gentle approach.

Hope this helps

Lincoln