Veneers - Crowns - Bonding

[helloz]

I've been reading the older forum posts trying to learn about the dental issues and appropriate treatments when you have dry mouth and your teeth are wearing down/chipping.

In the posts I am seeing people talk about veneers and crowns being a negative, though I cannot quite understand why.  Do veneers or crowns actually make anything worse?

About 15 years ago I got bonding to help with some chipping on the bottom of my front teeth and also in between to help fill the gap.  That is now crumbling away, and my dentist has suggested doing more bonding.  That got me thinking about veneers or crowns.

Are veneers or crowns a bad idea for people who have dry mouth?

[Liz D.]

Helloz,

All my teeth are crowned and although I have had issues with decay at the root on some of them, I personally feel I have no other choice in the meantime.  I'm not about to have all my teeth pulled (at this point, maybe later it will be a must) just to have dentures.  Most of my teeth are root canaled as well which takes care of the pain, thank goddess.  The main thing is to keep meticulous care of the crowns and the margins of the root so they will last.

That being said, I will warn you about getting veneers.  My dentist insisted on putting on four veneers even though I said I needed crowns.  Sure enough, the teeth on the back of the veneers rotted away.  My dentist ended up replacing them with crowns free of charge because he realized he was wrong.

Hope this helps you a bit.

Liz D.

[gurs]

Oh gosh, here is what happend to me. Around 10 years ago or so I had my excellent dentist do a full mouth restoration because of the damage the Sjogrens has caused my teeth etc. I took money out of my 401K ($40-50,000) to redo everything. A few root canals, etc and then all of the capped. It was a long and painful experience, not to mention the financial toll. My dentist was great. He warned about not getting veneers because they are usually only on the front or something like that. It took months but the results were good.

Things were good for a few years, but my sjogrens and autoimmune and hormone issues got bad, and all heck broke loose. Decay under most of them, under the gum line, teeth breaking, more root canals etc...nightmare. No fault of my wonderful dentist. He has been a saint. My Sjogrens is/was so bad...so I really think it depends on how bad your SS is. I have spent thousands more dollars and now Im left with almost no bottom teeth. I will not get implants because of my bone issues in my jaw and the expense as well, so now Im waiting till I lose some more teeth and just have to get partial/dentures whatever. It has been a nightmare. I dont think even the most experienced dentist in the world would be able to forecast what will happen. Mind you, I take excellent care of my teeth too, doesnt matter. Im still dealing with a mess. If I was feeling better, I would have all the remaining bottoms pulled and get dentures. I dont even care anymore what they look like. Im so tired of this.

Good luck to you though.

[Navigator]

I have had the top and bottom six teeth in front crowned (canine to canine)  and a few molars that needed major filling rework, because the teeth were cracking and disintegrating even though I keep great care of my teeth every day.   I have only had the crowns for 5 years or so and so far everything is fine.  You do have to be extra careful to keep the gum line as clean as possible and healthy. 

I got to the point where I did not feel comfortable with my breaking teeth and felt it was worth the investment to feel more confident in going out socially. As we get older getting out socially often is best for long life and health...so it is to me worth it. I am not ready to retire from a semi active life.   It is expensive but I saved up to make it happen. And it is a one time thing... (hopefully).

I take this all one day at a time. 

[helloz]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.  I may cross veneers off the options list based on your feedback and also reading that people who grind their teeth a lot (i do at night but wear a nightguard) probably won't be able to keep veneers on for very long.

That leaves crowns and bonding.  If I knew crowns would work well for me long term, I would just pay the money and do that but I do get a bit concerned about gum recession and other dry mouth related teeth issues down the road.

I may try bonding again.  That won't be able to restore the aesthetics I had hoped for but perhaps it is a more conservative approach while I see how things go over the next 5 years or so.

[Joe S.]

I went through a lot of crowns. They were also drilled and filled. I will be having them pulled now and dentures. I have thought about posts but I heal poorly so I do not believe they are an option. New dentist appointment is in December. We will see what is to be done then.

[Deborah]

Helloz:

I've had 14 crowns, 9 root canals and 1 implant in the last 5 years. Chronic sinus infections have greatly improved but very expensive even with dental insurance. For me it was a personal decision and absolutely do not wish to have dentures. Best of luck!

Deb

[Lotus1]

I've done quite well with my teeth until now......
2 teeth have been extracted in the last 2 weeks.
I'll leave the gap for the bottom 2nd from back removal.
The bottom front tooth removed on Tuesday is getting a false tooth next.
Wondering how the false tooth will be put in?
A bottom tooth 2nd from back on the other side needs removing, hopefully next year before it plays up.
A root canal done against my wishes on the top 2nd from back in Jan/Feb is still tender, drilled through crown.
The infection spread so fast up into my hair I had to go along with expensive root canal as I was in so much pain, wouldn't remove the tooth, grr.

New dentist says the porcelain crown done in 2010 on the root canal tooth is fractured, crown needs replacing.
I'm pushing for the tooth to be removed, won't miss it, can't see it.
I'll find a dentist who will remove the tooth one day.

So, I really sympathize with you people.
My turn seems to have come.
Like some of you have said you take care of your teeth & they still pack up with the dry mouth.
Joys of sjogrens.
Take care.

Lotus1

[cccourt1942]

helloz: When I was initially diagnosed I was told the following by a dentist (who specializes w' Sjogren's, post radiation (oral and throat, facial cancer) the following:
-Do NOT get veneers
-Do NOT have implants
-Do NOT have all your teeth pulled
-and then she gave me the name of a fellow dentist in my hometown who taught her at UT Dental School/Houston.

I did what they said!!

The reason isn't the teeth (and corrections) it's the jawbone.  No one can predict which ones of us will have unstable jaw bones.  When that starts crumbling, anything we've had done to "correct" teeth is out the window..or out the mouth.  When I first joined this forum we had a member whose name was similar to RipVanAnne.  She chronicled her jaw rebuilding and teeth restoration on this sight.  I can't recall her full screen name.  You can search mandible, jaw or jaw restoration to see in anything comes up.  She made a believer of me.  And remember:  I followed all of that ==about a year and a half---when I was initially diagnosed. 

I moved away from him and that town--found a new dentist.  She, along with the previous dentist, marveled that the worst my teeth appear to have suffered is discoloring.  My insurance pays for quarterly cleanings.  I have had 3 crowns in 2 years---but those are my first crowns---and I'm old: 75.  So not so bad.  They tell me it is luck of the draw if you are Sjogren's.  Just take it slowly...you won't be sorry. Of course, if you are losing teeth, you have to attend to them.  Just don't let anyone talk you into drastic changes.

Best wishes to you. I know this weighs on you.  It certainly did me in the beginning!
ccc

[Kell]

Where is your dentist located that you speak so highly? I have looked high and low for a dentist that has the patient's best interest at heart rather than their pocket book. Thank you!