Can I get gold crowns to be mostly rid of rampant tooth decay & to save my teeth? (don't want sealants)?

I want full cast gold crowns on my maxillary %26amp; mandibular second %26amp; third molars (8 in all). I'm 24yrs old %26amp; dealt w/ a ridiculous amount of cavities in my lifetime. The teeth mentioned above have about 3-4 silver amalgam fillings in each tooth %26amp; maybe a few composite resin fillings too on outside surfaces. In other words, my back teeth are messed up.Those teeth aren't cracked or damaged but have a little pain. I deal w/ a bit of gumline recession. Right now,I have 5 more cavities that need fillings. That's the aprox. # of cavities I'm getting every 6 months. I take good care of my teeth too! I use: scaler %26amp; explorer, floss after snacks, use waterpik %26amp; brush 2-3x/day. My teeth aren't too aesthetically bad upon 1st glance. I've always regularly visited the dentist. I'm tired of the constant cavities %26amp; worry.


Would a dentist perform these services for me? How much should I expect to pay for each tooth? Would this be considered cosmetic or restorative? (insurance covers crowns)

Can I get gold crowns to be mostly rid of rampant tooth decay %26amp; to save my teeth? (don't want sealants)?
No you will still have problems with your teeth. Maybe not right away but the tooth under the crowns will still decay and they crowns will not last as long as the dentist tells you. I have had a crown that came out 8 years later. I would suggest you look into getting implants. They atleast last alot longer and even though they are more expensive they do not decay in the same manner as regular half decayed teeth do that some dentist just puts a crown on top of. I am 29 years old and I have also dealt with tons of cavities even though I brush regularly and have always went to the dentist. Losing my teeth now. Lots of pain. Hope that you do the right thing.





Regards,


Nicole
Reply:You can have crowns placed on your bi-cuspids and molars if you so wish and have the money to do so. The dentist can file your insurance and most likely have them pay for it, especially if he sees that your large fillings are cracked or leaking. Be aware that usually the fillings need to be removed and replaced with a buildup material before crowning. This is for your own protection since decay can hide beneath a filling. Believe me you dont want a crown placed on top of a cavity.


There is always a chance that prepping and replacement of your fillings prior to crown placement will cause the nerve to react and hurt , then you would most likely need a root canal...no big deal just more money...est.$800 per molar.


(Dentists dont suggest 3rd molar crowns, because 3 molars are your wisdom teeth and most folks have those removed, unless they fit nicely into your mouth and are easy to clean!)


Gold is the best type of crown because they last longer, and stay cleaner ( plaque doesnt cling to them) I have one gold crown on a molar and several porcelain fused to gold crowns. I prefer the look of the porcelain myself, but the feel of the gold. Crowns are important to floss around the neck of the tooth daily since plaque can gather easily and you can still get decay under the crown that way, so never give up flossing when you have a crown.


I suggest you talk to your Dentist and have him work up a treatment plan and go over all the work to be done with a pre-approval from your insurance company to find out what they will pay and what you will be responsible for. Most Dentists want your portion up front. So dont be surprised.


Good luck and hope you get the smile of your dreams!
Reply:If you have the money to pay for them, a Dentist can put them anywhere in your mouth, it is up to you!!!
Reply:if you have the money than do it. just look at lil jon's mouth... he got crowns on every tooth
Reply:It sounds like you are trying to prevent future problems, which is admirable. I would advise you to wait to crown your teeth until they need them. The reason is that you are very young, and the likelihood is that they will need to be crowned again if they are done now.





Why? Because just like fillings, crowns are not totally leakproof. Over time, it is possible that you will get decay near the margin of the crown and tooth, and perhaps then need a second crown. A tooth can decay beneath a crown.





Aside: what do you use the scaler and explorer for? I would suggest that you may be doing more harm than good if you are not a trained dental professional, and how you are sterilizing them? Even if you are not sharing them with anyone else, putting them in and out of your mouth without proper sterilization can lead to bacterial problems. You may be inadvertantly causing more harm.





Waterpicks can sometimes accelerate the rate of recession, so ask your dentist or hygienist for tips on its proper use. Also, since you are getting that much new decay every 6 months, it sounds like you have a problem that is not being addressed. Are you taking medicine that dries you mouth? Saliva helps remineralize your teeth. Dry mouth can lead to rampant decay. Also, how long are you brushing? Putting your toothbrush in your mouth for 45 seconds 4 times daily is less helpful than a single 2 minute brushing daily. One should brush 2-3 times daily, for 2 minutes each time. Use a timer; 2 minutes can feel like a really long time when it's just you, the mirror, and Sir Toothbrush.





Consult your dentist to address your concerns so the two of you can solve your problem together.





Good luck.
Reply:of course yes....but dentists are the best judge. but opinion varies from dentist to dentist...and you will be more confused.