Replacement of front crowns

[saucygirl]

Can 28 yr old crowns be replaced on front teeth if they're all black around the gum area?  My dentist today said no as it would be classed as cosmetic, but on nhs literature it seems to imply front teeth crowns are covered.  The crowns themselves are ok, but don't fit properly anymore & are very embarrassing.  My dentist said it'll cost me £760 for the two to be done.

[HiHo]

As far as I understood it...

You could have white crowns or fillings if they would be visible. However, from what you have said it sound like the only reason they need replacing is because of discolouration. In which case that would be having a procedure done for purely cosmetic reasons - which isn't covered.

If you want, or your dentist suggests, treatment that is purely cosmetic (for example, tooth whitening, large white fillings or white crowns on back teeth), you can decide to have this treatment done privately.

Taking from http://www.nhs.uk/AboutNHSservices/dentists/Pages/DentistsFAQs.aspx#q10 (http://www.nhs.uk/AboutNHSservices/dentists/Pages/DentistsFAQs.aspx#q10)

As I said that is my interpretation of the rules which seem to be looked at in different ways by different practices.

Privately: £760 for two crowns sounds about right by the way.

Sorry, I can't be of more help

Jon