If your permanent crown has been cemented with temporary cement, this should not be a reason for concern. Temporary cement can be long lasting and is placed there for a reason. As many of the above dentists responded, it was probably because your doctor suspected that he/she may have to retrieve the crown at some point in time, or because you have had a sensitivity with the tooth, eilther to temperature or to pressure. Temporary cement will act to sedate the tooth in many instances and allow the tooth to calm down and feel good. No need to be overly concerned, if and when the temporary cement loosens, the crown can be permanently cemented if all is feeling well. I personally will temporlize a permanent crown for the same reasons and sometimes within 6 months to several years will replace the cement with permanent cement. You have been treated well. :)
In answer to your question, no, a porcelain crown will not cause your gums to darken. However, if you have previously had a root canal on a tooth and the tooth after a number of years has discolored, if there is adequate tooth structure remaining, you may be a candidate for internal bleaching. That is a process that by going into the back side of the tooth and opening up the access where the root canal was done, a bleaching pellet can be placed repeatedly until the color of the tooth lightens. If this process is not an option, or the color it lightens to is not satisfactory, then a crown would be indicated in this instance. You need to know, that a dark root may show through very thin tissue and that it is not the crown that is causing the discoloration, that is if it is an all porcelain crown. It the crown has a color of metal, that would be a concern in possible showing through your tissue and giving it a dark area at the gumline. Consult with your dentist first, and make sure all your questions are answered so as not to have any surprises along the way.
That's a great question. It's not like comparison pricing at the grocery store where an item can be 2.99 in one store and the same exact product is 3.25 at another store. Preparing and fabricating a dental crown is a service, not only a product. So, I would first consider the experience of the doc taking care of you and other docs of equal experience in the area. Sort of like a home comparable. Crowns can run from $500-$3000, dependent on the area you are in, and the type of crown you may be receiving. There is not a great answer for this question, so sorry for being so vague. Get yourself an experienced doc that you trust , and it can never hurt to ask if you can negotiate the fee, since you do not have any dental insurance. I always offer a 5% cash discount when procedures are paid in full.
I can feel the frustration in your question, and want you to know that you are not alone. Not only are you frustrated with loose veneers, but so is your dentist. As you have experienced, veneers require proper equilibration of your occlusion ( balanced bite) and adequate tooth structure to retain them. In your case, it may be a question of one or the other, or both. My suggestion would be 1) to have your occlusion looked at and adjusted if necessary to avoid hitting those veneers harder than the others, 2) have a nightguard made to prevent you from clenching and or grinding at night, then have the loose veneers rebonded. If all else fails, perhaps there was inadequate tooth structure to retain them and then, crowns for those 2 teeth would be indicated. But again, the bite would definitely require adjustments so as not to chip and wear the opposing teeth.
