Dental Crown

[JamesC]

I'm about to have a crown made.  I have a choice between Porcelain fused to standard alloy for 7500B and Porcelain fused to semi-precious alloy >50% for 11000B.  I'm just wondering if it is worth paying the extra 3500B?

I've searched on the web and all the dentistry sites seem to plagiarise each other!

Thanks for any help.

[taxexile]

which tooth are you having crowned , is the appearance and colour match important ( i.e. is it a front tooth that can be seen when you smile or is it a back tooth , is it an upper tooth or a lower tooth ?

[pampal]

I'm about to have a crown made.  I have a choice between Porcelain fused to standard alloy for 7500B and Porcelain fused to semi-precious alloy >50% for 11000B.  I'm just wondering if it is worth paying the extra 3500B?

I've searched on the web and all the dentistry sites seem to plagiarise each other!

Thanks for any help.

I went for a 55 percent gold crown, i am happy with it

[taxexile]

you might find this article helpful

Porcelain Fused to Metal Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are used to restore damaged or badly decayed teeth. Dental crowns, which are also known as "dental caps" or "tooth caps", can be made from metal, ceramic materials (porcelain), or a combination of both (porcelain fused to metal). This page focuses on porcelain fused to metal dental crowns. Comprehensive information can be found on metal dental crowns and porcelain dental crowns.

Porcelain fused to metal dental crowns is a hybrid between all-metal crowns and all porcelain crowns. When being manufactured, the dental technician will make a shell of metal (substructure) that is custom fitted for your affected tooth. A veneer of porcelain is then fused over this metal, giving the crown a white tooth-like appearance. Depending on the requirements of your situation, these crowns are sometimes made where the porcelain veneer only covers those aspects of the crown that are readily visible (the other portions of the crown have a metal surface), in other cases these crowns are pretty much fully surfaced by porcelain. There are different types of porcelain fused to metal dental crowns:

1. There is a choice in the metal. Semi-precious metals are stiffer and less expensive. They tend not to fit quite as well. Precious alloys with high gold and platinum content are more malleable and fit your tooth more accurately.

2. The porcelain can be what is known as "soft" porcelain. It remains as a quite hard substance, but it is less abrasive on the teeth it chews against. These softer porcelains cost a little more than conventional porcelains.

3. You can get what is called a "porcelain butt margin". This places pure porcelain right at the margin of the crown that shows. While it doesn’t eliminate the black line at the gum line, it helps minimize it. The lab charges extra for this.

4. You can have a metal chewing surface. While this detracts from the esthetics, it is the least abrasive to the opposing teeth

Porcelain fused to metal crowns has the advantages of having a nearly natural appearance from the porcelain, and the strength and stability provided by the underlying metal. Porcelain fused to metal dental crowns are stronger than the all porcelain crowns but are more prone to fracture than an all-metal dental crown.

Although the porcelain component makes this type of dental crown appear more natural, it is no comparison to the all-porcelain dental crown. This is because the metal substructure requires the use of an opaquer under the porcelain, which makes it impossible to re-create the translucency of natural teeth. They can also show a dark line at the edge of the crown, next to the gum. Sometimes the line doesn’t show when the crown is first placed but shows later, as the gum recedes.

Porcelain fused to metal dental crowns can be a good choice for either front or back teeth. These crowns are strong enough to withstand heavy biting pressures, and at the same time can have an excellent cosmetic appearance. There are some disadvantages associated with porcelain fused to metal crowns however, which your dentist will try to minimize as much as is possible. They are:

While the cosmetic appearance of these crowns can be excellent, they often are not as aesthetically pleasing as an all porcelain dental crown.

The crown’s porcelain can chip or break off.

The porcelain surface of the crown can significantly wear those teeth that bite against it.

In cases where this type of crown has broken, it is generally the layer of porcelain that has fractured off. This usually reveals the metal tooth substructure underneath, which is often gray in appearance. Since the seriousness of a dental crown fracture can vary greatly, it is critical to have that crown evaluated by your dentist.

Some minor damage might not be of much concern, and possibly ameliorated by a little smoothing with a dental drill, but only your dentist should determine this and only after they have had an opportunity to examine your precise situation. While the function and esthetics of the crown may have been compromised, the crown’s seal over the tooth may not have been affected.

[bobbin]

Three months ago in Pattaya I had four crowns done.

I shopped around. Not difficult as it seems there is a dental clinic around every corner.

Base metal/porcelain Bt. 4000/each

55% gold/porcelain Bt. 7000/each

85% gold/porcelain Bt. 11,000/each.

I opted for the 55% gold.

[JamesC]

Thanks Taxexile - your article was more detailed than any I managed to find. It's an upper molar.

So I guess the 11,000B crown will fit better, and possibly last longer?

Good prices, Bobbin, compared to the Bangkok standard advertised prices. Did you get a discount because you had 4 done?

[taxexile]

if your budget will run to it and you are sure the dentist will provide you with what you are paying for ( because you cant tell by looking ) then go for the precious alloy , you should consider also consider the following points.

3. You can get what is called a "porcelain butt margin". This places pure porcelain right at the margin of the crown that shows. While it doesn’t eliminate the black line at the gum line, it helps minimize it. The lab charges extra for this.

4. You can have a metal chewing surface. While this detracts from the esthetics, it is the least abrasive to the opposing teeth

best of the lot would be a full dental gold crown , no porcelain. a lot of people though dont like gold teeth.

the price shouldnt be much more expensive than the precious alloy crown . as there is no porcelain work involved , they are simpler for the technician to make.

the fit is mostly down to the skill and care of the dentist when he shapes the tooth for the crown and the method and materials he uses when he takes the impression of the shaped tooth to send to the technician.

[JamesC]

Thanks, Taxexile - I'll take your advice!  In about an hour they'll be drilling bits of my tooth away...

James

[bobbin]

Thanks Taxexile - your article was more detailed than any I managed to find. It's an upper molar.

So I guess the 11,000B crown will fit better, and possibly last longer?

Good prices, Bobbin, compared to the Bangkok standard advertised prices. Did you get a discount because you had 4 done?

There was no volume discount.

Actually did even better than posted prices on the first crown. My dentist did one crown the first visit. When it was time to fit the crown, she told me there had been a mix-up at the technician and they had made an 85% crown. She gave it to me for the 55% price. I asked if they could make the same mistake for the same price on the other 3 but no luck.

[JamesC]

Not bad, Bobbin

I've just met with the crown specialist, and he advises root canal treatment. I had root canal treatment on the tooth 20 years ago or so, but they look thin on the x-rays. So he advises that they should be redone, to preclude future infection.

So the cost of this would be 11,000 for the root canals, 3,500 for the "posts", 1,000 for the core build up (the old very large filling), plus the crown, say 11,000 or 15,000 if I take a full gold crown. So that would be 26,500-30,500 Baht for the tooth! This is at Bankok Dental in Siam Square. Does this sound like a reasaonable cost and good investment?

[taxout]

I'd suggest getting another opinion -- or two -- about the need to have the root canal redone, particularly from an endodontist (a root canal specialist).

[taxexile]

about the need to have the root canal redone, particularly from an endodontist (a root canal specialist).

agreed.

[JamesC]

Thanks taxout and taxexile.  I appreciate your opinions.  

[RCranbrook]

Not bad, Bobbin

I've just met with the crown specialist, and he advises root canal treatment. I had root canal treatment on the tooth 20 years ago or so, but they look thin on the x-rays. So he advises that they should be redone, to preclude future infection.

So the cost of this would be 11,000 for the root canals, 3,500 for the "posts", 1,000 for the core build up (the old very large filling), plus the crown, say 11,000 or 15,000 if I take a full gold crown. So that would be 26,500-30,500 Baht for the tooth! This is at Bankok Dental in Siam Square. Does this sound like a reasaonable cost and good investment?

I paid $20 per root canal therapy in Siem Reap for some hotel staff who needed dental work. $9.50 for a ceramic filling that was perfect in appearance.