Dentists use dental crowns and fillings to restore damaged teeth. The procedure they recommend will depend on the extent of damage to the tooth. For example, a filling can restore a tooth with a small cavity. Likewise, a dental crown can cover and strengthen a tooth with a large crack.
Continue reading to learn more about the differences between crowns and fillings.
Crowns
- Treats severely damaged or decayed tooth
- More expensive
- Completed in 1 dental visit with CEREC
- Covers decayed teeth
- Requires impressions
Fillings
- Treats minor tooth damage or decay
- More affordable
- Completed in 1 dental visit
- Fills in decayed teeth
- No impressions
Pros and Cons of Dental Crowns
are best suited for severely damaged and weakened teeth, though they can be used for minor damage as well. In cases where the tooth has a lot of damage, a dental filling would not be enough to properly restore the tooth. Instead, a crown would be used for the job.
Dental crowns are white, tooth-shaped caps that cover decayed or cracked teeth. They protect the tooth from experiencing any further damage and sensitivity. Crowns are much more durable than fillings, but they also require us to remove more tooth structure. Of course, this may not be as much of an issue if most of your tooth structure is damaged or decayed.
Learn more: Do I really need a dental crown? >>
Our dentists use CEREC to plan and place your new dental crown in one appointment. This means that you won’t have to deal with uncomfortable temporary crowns or pink impression putty that triggers your gag reflex. Not all dental practices offer CEREC crowns, which sets us apart from other dentists in the area.
Pros and Cons of Fillings
are meant for teeth that have minor decay. So if you only have a small cavity in your tooth, getting a filling would make the most sense. Our dentists do everything they can to detect cavities in their early stages. That way, he’ll be able to restore your teeth in a way that’s as minimally invasive as possible.
During the procedure, our dentists will drill to remove any decayed tooth matter and then fill in the tooth with composite resin. Like CEREC crowns, fillings only take one visit to complete. Since the process is not as involved, the cost of composite fillings is also significantly less than that of dental crowns.
Conclusion
Since composite fillings are less expensive and invasive, you may assume that they’re always the better choice. Yet, it really depends on the condition of your tooth. If your tooth has been weakened by injury or decay, adding a filling won’t restore its strength. Instead, a large filling will make the tooth more vulnerable to cracking. In this situation, you would need a dental crown to cover the entire visible portion of your tooth above the gum line.
As you can see, there really isn’t a clear-cut winner when it comes to fillings and crowns. Each dental treatment has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It all comes down to your specific situation and how much time and money you’re willing to spend. Our dentists will recommend the best solution for your smile so you can regain your oral health.
Call Family Dentistry Today
Do you have a toothache? Aren’t sure if you need a dental crown or filling? Call Family Dentistry today to request an appointment with one of our dentists in Wyoming, MI. Our number is (616) 534-5602.