Tom Payne Loc: Central Ohio

Sold my dental practice 10 years ago after 31 years in a small farming community and I have heard this logic more than I like to recall. My answer usually went along these lines. "I'm sad to haer that you consider these body parts expendable. They were a gift to you that came with birth. Perhaps, had you cared for them more like you do your (insert whatever, horses, cars, or, maybe even cameras) we wouldn't be having this conversation." I can gaurantee that ebay is not gonna help.

William J Renard

Don't feel bad. When I retired, I moved and had to get a new Dentist. My old dentist sent him instructions as what to do.
He did it his way, so instead of paying $900, I had to get implants
that cost me $9000, that sort of blew my plans for photo gear for a while. Hope you get your teeth fixed, but you will feel happy when it is done

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

All crowns are temporary. I know. I have had quite a few and many have failed over the years requiring replacement at another $1000 each. The only permanent dental procedure are extractions. However, at your age, a crown would probably be permanent as long as your dentist can do a better job on the crown than he did on the repair that failed after only three weeks.

A few years ago I went to my dentist for my usual checkup and cleaning. I would go every 3 to 4 months. So after his examine he says, "you have a small cavity on one of your molars. We'll take care of it at your next checkup.". I think, "he's the dentist so I guess it will be OK". Next time I go in he says, "we'll take care of that cavity on your next visit". I think, "well, he's the dentist, he's the professional, he knows what he is doing, he has my best interest at heart". Turned out I was right on only three of those four points. It definitely wasn't my best interest he was concerned about. More like who was he going screw over to make the next payment on his Corvette. So the next time I go in he says, "that cavity is too deep, I will have to put a crown on the tooth". Ah ha, that is what he was waiting for. Why do an $85 drill and fill when he can do a $1200 crown? Although I had dental insurance I still had to pay $600 or $700 out of pocket. And then he says, "I won't know until I get in there but it may need a root canal done". I knew then that would be exactly what he would say when the time came. I should have walked out of there at that time and found an honest dentist. However, this was in Southern California so an honest dentist would have been hard to find.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Jerry, did eBay list crown adapters so you could get different brand molar kits. Like for macro chewing or zoom chewing or prime chewing.

shelty Loc: Medford, OR

What I get a kick out of is: The dentist I go to has this big dental office and at least a half dozen dental assistants and clerks. No wonder he has to charge so much for his work. The little X-ray thingy they put into my mouth to record the X-ray; the assistant said it cost over $15,000.

shelty Loc: Medford, OR

I would have got up out of that chair and gone to another dentist.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Since I have only 7 teeth left on my bottom jaw, I've been checking on having them pulled and getting a plate with implants.

So far the cost is over 13,000 but I'm checking out options. Maybe two partial plates (left and right sides) with implant and keep my 7 original teeth.

Or as earlier suggested, I'll buy a blender.

Sarge69

davidk2020 Loc: San Diego

You should have gotten your teeth fixed in Mexico, especially since you were there anyway. Mucho cheapo there.

(And dammit, learn to use parentheses instead of the square brackets: they screw-up quotes here, doncha know.)

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

There's site on the web where you can get a DVD on how to make your own dentures!
Just think of all the money you could save by doing that.
Probably enough to get a body and some lenses.

will

picturedude Loc: Yosemite natl. park, Ca.

Get the lens. Then take a picture of a new crown, leave it in the camera, then you'll have the best of both worlds!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If it's one tooth, that's an easy decision. When it gets to several missing teeth, that's a different situation.

Consider the D750.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

I've got to leave this conversation. I just got a notice from UPS that my camera is ready for pickup. I want to pickup because my delivery area is after 5pm in the evening and I'd never last that long.

Sarge69

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Years ago, a guy I knew drove down south to a dental school to get dentures. I doubt that a crown would cost much less there, though.

soli Loc: London, UK.

The dental technician charges roughly 1/10th or less to make the crown !! Dentists are among the biggest rip off merchants. Mine charges £65 once I open my mouth, not to talk. I have a big job coming up and am scared to hell as to what will happen.[[quote=jerryc41]I went to the dentist this morning to see what he could do about a failed repair he made three weeks ago - not much. I can leave it as it is or spend $1,000 for a crown. When I think about how many cameras and lenses are available for $1,000, it makes my decision to leave the tooth alone easier to bear.

I tried ebay, and there's lots available, but installation would be tricky. :D

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-POLYCARBONATE-TEMPORARY-DENTAL-CROWNS-BOX-KIT-180-PCS-WITH-PAPER-GUIDE-CHART-/170888539304?hash=item27c9c02ca8:g:FEcAAOxy5rpSQa4I[/quote]

davidk2020 Loc: San Diego

I worked with a guy who had full-mouth veneers done in Tijuana. They looked a bit off, but the cost was a tenth of what he'd have paid here.

When I was a kid, my parents took me to TJ for all my dental work. It was no worse than what a US dentist would have done. The offices and equipment weren't all that fancy, but I think what you pay most for here is showmanship.