Korean Job Discussion Forums

aloysha · Joined: 18 Sep 2005

Okay so I had a root canal done on a rear molar. Not too pleasant. That is not the problem.

The problem is the language barrier. He wants to put a gold cap/crown on. Now, I like gold mind you, the greater the amount in my possession the better. But not in my mouth.

He insists that it be gold and not ceramic or any combination thereof. Any of you had a molar root canal done with a ceramic/porcelain cap/crown? Do you have problems with it cracking? Does any one have a dentist that has offered you an alternative to the gold?
Thanks.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

I've had the white fillings, and although they look nicer, I don't trust them as much. They seem to shrink away, and sometimes I've felt like they allow a little more to leak in around the sides when I eat something like candy that's really sweet.

Dentists here often are against the amalgum fillings. They say Amalgum causes cancer. The US Dental Association says that's hogwash. I just think it's because amalgum fillings are covered mostly under korean health insurance, and the Korean dentists can only get a small amount of money due to that.

lawyertood · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:38 am Post subject:

I've had ceramic done here and in Thailand. No problems yet.

aloysha · Joined: 18 Sep 2005

Bassexpander- I think the situation changes once a root canal is done. It is no longer a choice between amalgam and white filling. Plus, it is a molar
which experiences considerably more stress than the front teeth. I understand what you mean though.

Lawyertood- is it on a molar?

canuckistan · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:53 am Post subject:

Gold is tougher and will last longer, especially if it's on a molar.

aloysha · Joined: 18 Sep 2005

yes, that is very true. My dentist is just explaining it as the only option. He seems reticent to offer any alternative.

TheChickenLover · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Location: The Chicken Coop

Ceramic for 7 years, no problems at all. I had my dentist insist only gold. My solution was simple, I wanted ceramic & I found another dentist who would make it.

Needless to say the gold-only dentist wasn't pleased & swore at me when I left his dental clinic. I found another dentist who did a great job.

YOU have the final say, not your dentist. If he refuses, simply look elsewhere

Chicken

aloysha · Joined: 18 Sep 2005

maybe you had my dentist, though he seems realllly nice when he "doesn't recommend " anything but gold Laughing

if you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost ?

bossface · Joined: 05 Aug 2006

i just finished a root canal yesterday. the dentist actualy gave me lots of choices in crowns. ceramic was only 50 k more, but i went with the gold since its supposed to be stronger. it's on a molar way in the back though, so it's impossible to see. if it were on a tooth that was at all visible, i'd have gone for ceramic.

Kwangjuchicken · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:31 am Post subject:

ultra · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject:

I have had porcelain fillings installed to replace metallic fillings.

No matter how good the porcelain is, it won't last, compared with gold.

After some years porcelain fillings will fail.

I have had most of the porcelain fillings replaced with gold.

Go for the gold. Bling is cool.

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

I too just had a root canal on a rear molar and my dentist speaks great English. She wouldn't even consider anything but gold and platinum. The molars do the grinding and need to be strong and as such, I went with the platinum. The 14K gold was W300,000. The 18K was W350,000. The platinum was W400,000. Go with the gold or platinum. Nobpdy looks at your back teeth anyway.

Kwangjuchicken · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:05 am Post subject:

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

Seven years with a porcelain crown? Is it a molar? I am assuming you don't have a 100% porcelain crown but a porcelain fused to metal crown, which is much stronger than a plain porcelain crown. Of course, I am not a dentist but my one and only pure porcelain crown lasted about 2 years before starting to chip...

aloysha · Joined: 18 Sep 2005

hmm, the tooth being a molar is the kicker. The ceramic cap is what im thinking of but maybe a gold-por. fused cap is the way to go. 14 k at 300,000, that sounds good, who is your dentist ?

My dentist didn't offer any choice with respect to k. He is telling me 450,000, seems like quite a bit !