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Aster's avatar

Is this dentist trying to rip me off ? (details inside)

Asked by Aster (20028points) July 16th, 2016

I have gone to this dentist only because his office is a mile up the road. He has been there for five years. Very recently he abandoned that building and had a large, nice building with all new dental equipment installed. I bet he has at least six exam rooms. Anyway, I have a space between two upper teeth (near the middle) with no tooth on it thanks to popcorn. The teeth on each side seem to be strong in my opinion. I wanted a crown put on but he said , “if you were a member of my family I’d recommend an implant. A crown would come off.” Why would he say that? I know he wouldn’t do a root canal first because my old dentist, thirty minutes away, already did one. Should I go to my old dentist and ask for a permanent crown?

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12 Answers

janbb's avatar

I am facing something similar with my usual dentist. They put a crown on that keeps coming off. Now I am facing an implant because there is not enough tooth there to hold a crown ni suspect that is the same situation for you and why he is suggesting an implant.

RedDeerGuy1's avatar

Yes. He is biased towards making money. Ask a dentist who isn’t treating you for an unbiased opinion.

Hypocrisy_Central's avatar

I have to go with the Artic Bird on this one. I know a Brother who recently had similar things, he dentist told him he could put another crown on it but they are only good for about 10 years. I also read that each time a crown is put on it, it takes more teeth. Implants have grown a lot cheaper and to me, and seem to be a better option if you do not want to go back to the dentist in the next decade for that. And if the root canal your last dentist did is still good, why would you want to pay for another when you indicate you want to save money because you are concerned this dentist is trying to rook you with an implant you don’t need.

Aster's avatar

@janbb there are two “spokes” there to hold some ridiculous “crown” the old dentist put on that came off in two weeks. I thought those were a build up. But the new dentist might be right. He saw what’s there and said a crown won’t stay on . Oh, dear.

janbb's avatar

@Aster If it came off in two weeks, i suspect there was not enough to hold it on.

Aster's avatar

Yes, but what the old dentist put on was not a permanent crown. He did a root canal then miraculously produced a “tooth looking” thing and glued it on. Which came off . The implants run well over a thousand bucks. Actually, I could have a bridge put there but I’m terrified of it being uncomfortable or “clicking.” @Hypocrisy_Central I’d be very happy with a ten year crown. I’m that old !

janbb's avatar

@Aster I gave you my opinion; you pays your money and you takes your choice. Go check with another dentist if you’d rather but it sounds like you’re not happy with the old or the new.

Aster's avatar

@janbb again, it’s a matter of lack of trust. I just don’t trust dentists! I think I got some of this from my father who detested them. Present company excluded for sure! Hey! I was born and bred in Jersey too!

janbb's avatar

It makes my life so much easier to find medical care providers that I like and trust!

Aster's avatar

What I want is to be crazy about mine. lol

smitaverma's avatar

Yes, I think you should go to your old dentist.

trailsillustrated's avatar

The question doesn’t make sense because you say you wanted a crown. A crown covers a tooth that is there. An implant replaces a tooth that is not there . It sounds to me like there’s not much tooth left so there’s nothing to put a crown on, which is why it would fall off. Front teeth have lots of bite pressure so you’re better off with an implant.

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