A 33-year-old female asked:

I went to the dentist , he said my teeth need to be crowned i am only 33 i have six kids . why r they weak? should i get them crowned ?

5 doctor answers10 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein
Cosmetic Dentistry 35 years experience
Maybe.: Teeth are candidates for crowns when they have large fillings, or multiple smaller fillings in them or a combination of fillings and new cavities that result in a large amount of the tooth being gone.. The remaining tooth structure will be thin, weak and at risk of fracturing. To protect against fracturing, a crown is recommended.
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Dr. Theodore Davantzis
Dentistry 42 years experience
Possibly: Once teeth are broken down to the point where fillings won't be adequate an more, crowns are necessary to restore the teeth. It is possible that is your situation. Have your dentist explain his rationale to you.
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Dr. Arnold Malerman
Orthodontics 55 years experience
And don't let this happen to your kids. Make sure they see dentist every 6 months, receive fluoride, brush 2 minutes 2x/day, floss daily, avoid sweet starchy snacks, and follow their dentist's advice to the letter.
May 6, 2013
Dr. Arnold Malerman
Orthodontics 55 years experience
Time problem: Sounds like you may have taken time away from your own care to in turn care for your kids. It's hard to believe that you went from not needing treatment to needing a bunch of crowns in just the 6 months between dental appointments. If you are unsure, get a second opinion. But please don't put off the work that you need any longer.
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Dr. Daniel Rubenstein
Dentistry 53 years experience
Depends: Teeth usually need to have crowns if they can no longer hold a filling, if they have fractured, or if they are decayed too badly to be adequarely repaired with a filling. (crowns are also used to correct bites and poorly contoured teeth). Ask your dentist his reasons for suggesting crowns. If you are not comfortable with his explanation, get another opinion.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. I. Jay Freedman
Dentistry 45 years experience
2nd & 3rd Opinion: This is an impossible question to answer without doing my own comprehensive oral exam, models and images. My suggest would be to get at least two more independent opinions and see how similar or different. You may very well need all crowns at 33 years old, but wouldn't you feel better if two other professions agreed?
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Dec 10, 2013

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