newbie looking for advice on treatment options

[abigail06]

Hi,
I've just discovered this forum. I have been advised by my new dentist that on extracting one tooth (4th from front) the only options I have is for a four tooth crown (I have 2 extractions and solid teeth on either side) at £992  or NHS plate for 2 teeth at £54. Apparently there are no other options for me. (I have bridge work, crowns and all sorts due to a calcium deficiency as a child which looks like very expensive dental work I did not have to pay for). He could not crown the extracted tooth due to an abscess and the poor condition of the tooth. I previously had two or three teeth replaced on NHS that fitted to post in my gum and a tooth pasted on to it. Is this what is now called an implant costing around 1k each? I seem to be offered two extremes when dentists previously have just replaced a single tooth no problem. Please advice I'm not sure about the advice I'm being given.
Thank you very much for any advice that can be given on any aspect of this post.

[asterix]

Yes, this is a more common problem since the advent of the new NHS contract; re bridgework/dentures question.

starting at the top.
if the teeth cannot support a post and crown then yes you will need to lose it.
1. implant: 1-2K each, private only option; considered the best as you don't have to chop down good teeth either side. basically a titanium rawlplug screwed into the bone under the gum which can then do the job of the natural root and support a crown. do some research yourself if you want to know more.
2. bridge: teeth either side of the gap are chopped down as if for a crown and a bridge is made of a set of crowns stuck together which fit into the gap ond over the two prepared teeth either side of the gap. often temp. plastic bridge or denture for 3-6months while gums heal post extraction of roots.
3.denture. false plastic teeth that fit in gap, can be uncomfortable/difficult to get used to.

cost of making the bridge for 4 units (2 teeth missing plus the two teeth either side) will be ~£300-400 cost to the dentist. the nhs would pay him less than that (about 250-300) to treat you, plus it takes a couple of hours in total. this is why he would not do it on the nhs for you.

the denture will take much less time and will cost the dentist about £80-100. you do the maths.

with the old contract, the dentist would get paid for how much work he did and hence making you a bridge would be viable under the nhs.

990 is a very reasonable price privately for a 4 unit bridge esp. if it includes all the other work; examination, xrays, extraction, temp bridge etc.


Bear in mind these are general comments; each case is different and i'm only working off the info you have given me.

hope this is of some help