Meara - are they recommending a crown just because it's the only procedure your insurance will cover? i had an experience with an old filling cracking and creating problems, and the initial solution was a crown. I pushed a little not wanting to just cut off the whole top of my tooth and they instead did a (more expensive) 2 part process inlay that allowed me to keep more of my tooth. The downside is that most insurances won't pay for it....but my (limited, 2nd hand) experience with crowns is less than awesome. I haven't had any problems with the inlay (*knocks on wood*) aside from the week of a temporary inlay while waiting for it to be custom made.

I...have no idea, erin. They didn't say they were going to cut off the whole top of my tooth! They said they were going to basically shave it down all around, then put on a crown to hold it together. OTOH, "more expensive" is not really sounding great to me either. ;)

and by more expensive, i think it was like $800 cash instead of $500 deductable/copay. I still think it was worth it. basically they took out the old filling, drilled out all the decay, took a mold, then made an inlay to fit exactly. Once it was done, that was glued in like an extra big filling.

Crowns generally require removing a LOT of your tooth and leaving a nub to attach it to. They are super common...the idea just creeps me out (personally.)

There's also no truth to the concern that the government puts secret tracking devices into crowns. Nobody is saying that.

Ouch, meara - at both the crown and the cost of it.

Thanks, Liese!

I've got to get a crown sometime this summer for a cracked tooth. Fortunately, I've got supplemental dental to go on top of my regular dental, so most of it will be covered. Not sure what I'll have to pay yet, but soooo happy I work for the state gov't right now.

Aims, I am so sorry. That is a lot of loss.

~ma headed your family's way, Aims.

Oh Aims. I am so sorry.