I'm getting a crown on Wednesday! Actually, just the temporary, but they grind down your tooth to put it on. Ugh!
I've known this was coming. I had a tooth filled three years ago, and when the dentist did the procedure he said it would last about two years and then I would have to have a crown. The tooth is basically just a shell filled with, well, filling stuff!! The last time I went in for a cleaning (May?), he said I was living on borrowed time and would have to have the crown by the end of the year. My plan was to wait until after school started and have it done, but for the past month my mouth has been getting sore around that tooth. We have a family reunion in a few weeks, and I really don't want to have to deal with a toothache, so it looks like it's now or never!
If you've ever had a crown, tell me it's not so bad!! I am dreading this procedure!
I used to crunch ice, which is a HUGE no-no/ can crack your teeth. Consequently, I have several crowns on back molars. Other than paying for them (and wishing I hadn't cracked my teeth in the first place), "it's OK." Really! It wasn't excessively painful or anything.
I have two gold ones and a porcelain (white) one. Hopefully that's it. I've quit crunching ice, but still tend to clench/ grind my teeth ... (I do wear an oral 'appliance' at night to prevent some damage.)
~R
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"Every great adventure comes with great adversity; otherwise it would not be a great adventure. In fact, in a great adventure, adversity is not only expected, it should be welcomed. That's what makes it interesting and exciting." ~Rolando Villazon
I grew up in Portland, which had very soft non-fluoridated water. Everyone in my generation had a ton of fillings. Eventually, a lot of them have needed to be replaced with crowns. I've lost track of how many I have, but I would guess 7 or 8. The only part I don't like is the drilling. It isn't painful, but you can hear the whine and smell it, too. Fortunately, the drilling doesn't take long. They will take impressions and give you a temporary crown. Be very careful with this crown--they can crack, break, or just fall out. In a couple of weeks, you will go back and they will remove the temporary crown and put on the permanent one. After that, it's just like having a new tooth.
...after it is over. Yes, it will be tender for a day or two. But as someone who has had 22 crowns (babies are hard on your teeth) I know which is worse, an absessed tooth, or a crown. You do not want to keep messing with this tooth. As long as it is a good fit, you will not know the difference soon. If it doesn't fit like a real tooth, make them redo it. If you don't you will wish you did. It will hurt for about a day, and be tender for another day or two. But then it will be fine. And you will be very glad that you did it.
"Every great adventure comes with great adversity; otherwise it would not be a great adventure. In fact, in a great adventure, adversity is not only expected, it should be welcomed. That's what makes it interesting and exciting." ~Rolando Villazon
I had a root canal last year while I had my braces on. We were waiting for the braces to come off before they did the crown. However, I'm still having some sensitivity w/ the tooth, so I've got to go in and have it checked again, xrays w/o the braces in the way. My dentist says it might actually be the tooth next to it, but I don't think so. I sure hope that's the case becasue I sure can't afford a $985 root canal out of pocket! I don't know if my dental ins will pay for a second RC on a tooth.
we set aside money in our Flexible Spending account. However, dh had a sledding accident* in January, and the xrays, MRI's and visits to the neurosurgeon have eaten away at all that money. After insurance, it will cost us $500 out of pocket.
*43 year old men should not "surf" down a snow covered hill on a plastic sled! It can be very dangerous!
The only part I don't like is having my mouth open for long, but that's just part of any dental work. You aren't having a root canal with it are you? Those I don't like.
It took less than an hour. I have the temporary right now, and it's not even sore anymore. I've been trying not to chew on that side, but because it feels pretty normal, I keep forgetting.
I tend to get worked up just thinking about stuff, and then it never turns out to be as bad as I thought. Our dentist is awesome too, btw, as well has the hygenists. I get the permanent crown on 8/11, and I'm not worried at all.
(I do wear an oral 'appliance' at night to prevent some damage.)
o
