In a couple of days I am due to have my four top front teeth prepared
for crowns. My dentist (in London) pointed out on my last visit that,
unusually, in my case the two teeth right at the front are the same
lenth as the other two at each side rather than, as is normal
appearently, being slightly longer. He said they might always have been
like this, or or that they could have worn down more quickly than
those to each side. He asked me whether with the new crowns I would
like the two frontmost teeth to be made slightly longer than those at
their sides, or whether I would like the current pattern of all being
the same length to be repeated. He left it up to me to decide, and I
found myself unable to do so. Does anyone have any thoughts/experience
on this? This is the biggest dental procedure I will have ever had, not
to mention the costliest, and I am keen to 'get it right', and not to
have a result I regret. The crowns are long overdue - two of the teeth
had root canal treatment some 20 years ago and have blackened over
time, another is badly chipped - so the work does need to be done. If
they are made all the same length, will it look weird, and will it be
something I regret? Or does it not make much difference?
Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated!
Susie
Steven Bornfeld - 22 May 2006 13:42 GMT
> In a couple of days I am due to have my four top front teeth prepared
> for crowns. My dentist (in London) pointed out on my last visit that,
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Susie
This is partially personal preference, and partially based on your
bite. Usually, if the upper and lower teeth meet pretty much
edge-to-edge, eventually they are all ground down pretty much to an even
level. I see this more with middle-aged men. We were taught back in
the dark ages of my dental school career (early-mid '70s) that certain
tooth forms and setups were more "feminizing"--female teeth had more
rounded contours, etc. Some of this was probably sexist claptrap, but
to a certain extent I do see more severe wear and edge-to-edge bites in men.
I know things are different in the UK; you may not have the same time
to finesse your preferences. There is no substitute here for trying
things in. I generally get a bisque bake of the crowns (porcelain not
fully fired) and try them in. If there is doubt, I'll make some teeth a
little longer, and if necessary trim them back chairside so the patient
will see what they look like before glazing and finishing of the crowns.
You should keep in mind that the way your jaws move together may limit
the dentist's ability to lengthen certain teeth without putting undue
biting forces on them. He will surely check this.
Good luck,
Steve
calliandra722@yahoo.co.uk - 22 May 2006 16:24 GMT
I think you're right when you say in the UK one might not have the same
time to finesse one's preferences. Don't know if much account is made
of "feminising" through rounded contours. Could do with any feminising
available at this stage.
When you say: "if lower and upper teeth meet pretty much edge to edge",
do you literally mean the top and lower teeth meeting (clashing) edge
to edge while chewing? Surely the bottom teeth set is always behind the
upper when chewing? Maybe I just misunderstood what you meant.
I'm inclined to go with the slightly longer two front crowns, hoping
this isn't going to be too Bugs Bunnyesque.
Susie
> > In a couple of days I am due to have my four top front teeth prepared
> > for crowns. My dentist (in London) pointed out on my last visit that,
[quoted text clipped - 39 lines]
> Good luck,
> Steve
Mark & Steven Bornfeld - 22 May 2006 17:10 GMT
> I think you're right when you say in the UK one might not have the same
> time to finesse one's preferences. Don't know if much account is made
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> to edge while chewing? Surely the bottom teeth set is always behind the
> upper when chewing? Maybe I just misunderstood what you meant.
No, you didn't. Edge to edge bite is common (lower teeth in front of
the upper teeth isn't rare either). Having at least a little bit of
overjet (upper teeth over lower) is an easier situation to deal with
restoratively.
> I'm inclined to go with the slightly longer two front crowns, hoping
> this isn't going to be too Bugs Bunnyesque.
If it's a bit overdone, it usually can be adjusted slightly in the
mouth later.
Steve
> Susie
>
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
>>Good luck,
>>Steve

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Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
Joel344 - 22 May 2006 14:17 GMT
Front ones longer (central incisors) side ones a little
shorter and more rounded at the distal (lateral incisors).
Can he show you a photo? If not we can!
Joe
--
Joel34