Crowns across top - 2 at a time a bad idea?!


Question: My dentist has advised me for the last 2 or 3 years to get 6 crowns across the top front due to large fillings in the past, weakening etc., not to mention looks. One of them would be a replacement crown from many years ago. Today I said I would finally go for doing 2 of them as my new dental insurance would cover half the cost of 2 of them. My dentist is advising that it is best if all 6 are done at once as it is much easier to have uniformity of the colour of the porcelain and also the fitting of them together with no gaps.

I understand about the possibilty of the shades of porcelain not being exactly the same if I get the crowns done in 3 sets of 2 according to when I have enough insurance or spare cash. But is it really that hard for her to fit 2 new crowns to match and fit well with neighbouring crowns so that there are no gaps or wrong angles or whatever that does not look right? Maybe she just wants a good payday for 6 crowns all at once. Should I get a second opinion?


Answers: My dentist has advised me for the last 2 or 3 years to get 6 crowns across the top front due to large fillings in the past, weakening etc., not to mention looks. One of them would be a replacement crown from many years ago. Today I said I would finally go for doing 2 of them as my new dental insurance would cover half the cost of 2 of them. My dentist is advising that it is best if all 6 are done at once as it is much easier to have uniformity of the colour of the porcelain and also the fitting of them together with no gaps.

I understand about the possibilty of the shades of porcelain not being exactly the same if I get the crowns done in 3 sets of 2 according to when I have enough insurance or spare cash. But is it really that hard for her to fit 2 new crowns to match and fit well with neighbouring crowns so that there are no gaps or wrong angles or whatever that does not look right? Maybe she just wants a good payday for 6 crowns all at once. Should I get a second opinion?

I agree.. she's hearing the ka-ching of the cash register and not hearing you...

Get the central incisors done first (front two teeth), then the lateral incisors (the ones next to them) and finally the canines (eye teeth).

The porcelain shade for each crown should match (she would just need to select the same shade, it's that simple) so there would be uniformity in the color.

The models from the impressions would not be reusable, so you'll have to have a new impression each time you went to have another crown(s) done. The old models would not be any good anymore, since your dentition will have changed from the first set of new crowns placed.

Getting the crowns done this way is not a big deal... and if they're done right, there won't be any gaps or incorrect angles... she's just messing with you to 'scare' you into getting them all done at once.

Get another consult with a different dentist and see what happens....

I am a dental nurse, and it sounds like the dentist is just trying to make money off you! we keep the moulds and the shades of the crown and alot of other important details, so the crap about the "uniformity yada yada yada" is total crap.
Get them done as your ready. 3 sets of 2 is a great idea.
Good luck!





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