Deciding Between a Crown and a Filling
Your dentist in Granite City, Illinois, has many options at their disposal for treating your teeth. Choosing between these solutions can feel confusing, especially when it comes to deciding between dental fillings and crowns.
Both restorations have their advantages, including strong and natural-looking results. Your best choice will ultimately depend on your needs and the extent of damage to your tooth. Understanding each can help make this determination easier.
What is a dental filling?
Fillings are the most common method of repairing minor cavities. In this simple process, your dentist removes the tooth decay and replaces it with the filling material. This material is vital in restoring the tooth’s function and strength.
Materials Used for Fillings
Modern dental filling materials focus on restoring tooth structure. One of the most common materials today is composite resin. It is available in various shades so that your dentist can choose the color that most closely matches your teeth.
Amalgam fillings are silver because they are composed of metals. Because of their strength, amalgam fillings are durable and mainly used in molars and premolars.
When Dental Fillings Are Recommended
Your dentist will always first consider the tooth’s health to determine whether dental fillings are suitable treatment. However, fillings are often recommended in the following scenarios:
- If you have minor tooth decay
- If you want to conserve the natural tooth structure
- When you need a cost-effective restoration
Although dental filling cost varies between dental offices, these restorations usually cost less than a dental crown.
What is a dental crown?
Unlike a filling, which replaces a part of the tooth, a dental crown covers the entire tooth above the gumline. Its full coverage is what protects the damaged tooth and improves its appearance. Your dentist will customize your new crown to match your natural tooth’s shape, color, and size.
Materials Used for Crowns
Dental crowns are made from various materials. Your dentist will recommend the best material based on aesthetics, durability, strength, and compatibility with adjacent teeth. Common materials used for these restorations include:
- Porcelain fused to metal
- Gold
- Porcelain
- Zirconia
Some materials are more cost-effective than others, but they all offer durable solutions for damaged teeth.
When Dental Crowns Are Recommended
Sometimes, the damage to your tooth is too extensive for a dental filling to fix. A dental crown helps restore your tooth’s health and function in these cases. For example, your dentist may recommend a dental crown in these scenarios:
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Severe tooth decay
- Post-root canal treatment
In any of these situations, a dental crown can improve the appearance of discolored, misshapen, or severely worn teeth while providing strength and reinforcement.
Comparing Crowns and Fillings
Both dental fillings and crowns restore damaged teeth, but they differ in how they are used, how long they last, and how much they protect.
Durability and Longevity
A crown often last longer than a filling. A filling may only last 7 to 10 years, but a crown can last 10 to 15 years or longer with proper care. However, many factors, like diet, oral hygiene habits, and frequency of dental checkups, can impact the lifespan of both restorations.
Cost Considerations
It’s vital to consider your finances when deciding between a crown and a filling. Getting a filling is usually more cost-effective than a crown. However, the total cost depends on several factors, like the cavity size and the type of filling material.
A dental crown requires more materials to cover larger areas, making them more expensive than fillings, but they often cost less in the long run when you consider their durability.
Aesthetic Outcomes
Along with restoring function, dental fillings and crowns enhance appearance. A crown can completely hide discoloration and other imperfections at once, boosting your smile’s radiance and confidence. Composite filling material can blend seamlessly with your tooth’s natural color for a discreet treatment and a natural-looking smile but won’t always completely block things like severe discoloration.
Factors To Consider When Selecting Your Restoration
Before getting any dental treatment, scheduling a consultation is essential. During this appointment, your dentist will perform a visual evaluation and take necessary X-rays to review your oral health. They can then determine the best option for your unique needs based on what they find. Your dentist will consider several factors to determine whether a filling or crown is the better restoration to recommend for your condition.
Extent of Tooth Damage
The extent of the tooth’s damage is the most important factor. When the damage is too extensive or deep, there simply might not be enough tooth structure to support a filling.
Similarly, a dental crown may be the best option if your tooth is weak or has a large filling already.
Tooth Location
Dental crowns are often more suitable for molars and premolars, which must withstand most of the biting and chewing forces. Fillings are more appropriate for areas that aren’t subjected to these heavy forces.
Oral Health and Habits
If you have untreated periodontal disease, you may be ineligible for a crown. However, if it’s in the early stages and being treated, you may be able to still opt for a crown instead of a filling.
Explore your options to relieve tooth pain.
A toothache is never fun, but treatments like dental fillings or crowns can take care of the problem and provide much-needed relief. The friendly team at Metro East Dental Care can offer personalized guidance for your particular needs. Schedule an appointment today.
