Dental crown - cost

[Alliegid]

Hi - I went to dentist yesterday as I had broken the side off my back molar - it has a large filling in already & not much tooth left. Dentist said that I needed a crown, I could get an NHS metal one for �198 or have a white one privately for �300.
I'm wondering whether white ones are available on the NHS, or do they only offer Babba Yagga ones?
Any advice would be welcome
Allie

[Mamyalynne]

believe on NHS only white are available at front of mouth, Ive had a metal one for two years on back molar and no problem (I thought i would taste it if you see what i mean)

PS less of the babba yagga this is Mamya x

[Alliegid]

Thanks mamyalynne - that would make sense I suppose , though he didn't explain it at all. looks like it will be a Baba Yaga metal tooth for me then (my dad used to terrify us with this Russian fairy story when I was a kid - never thought I'd be turning into her!)

[lilacben]

Allie, I have the same thing on one of my back molars. But asked my dentist if I could just leave it as it was, which he agreed to. I broke over a half of the tooth down to the gum and the temp. dentist I saw put a new filling in the tooth and told me to see my own dentist. Which I did and I asked him if I could just keep it as it was as it isnt causing any trouble. So I did not have a crown fitted. Could you not ask your dentist the same and save the money. You cannot see it as it is at the back.

[MrXLA]

Regarding the last post that might be appropriate, but one of the reasons (among many) that a 'back' tooth MAY be crowned is to preserve what is left. Therefore leaving it might ultimately lead to further fracture and ultimately the tooth may become unrestorable. Generally speaking patients are concerned with what they can see i.e. 'not at the front' but a dentists are concerned with preserving function i.e. abilitybto chew

[Alliegid]

Thanks for responses lilacben & MrXLA - psycologically I'd feel better having a tooth at the back and being a veggie I chew on my food quite well ( not quite chewing the cud, but along those lines!) I think that if I just leave it , it is only a matter of time before the filling in the tooth falls out ( not much left to hold it in now )
I like white crowns as then I can still convince thje kids to clean their teeth really well, and they will "be as perfect as mine" - not quite as convincing with a mouth full of metalwork!