You’re sitting in the dental chair, minding your own business, when your dentist interrupts the mental argument you were just about to win. They say you have a cavity.
Gone is whatever point you were trying to make to yourself. Now your mind is rapidly scrolling through bits and pieces of information. You’ll need a crown, you think. Or is it a filling? Gah! What’s the difference?
Not to worry, fair reader! Just keep on going. You’ll find everything you need to know about crowns and fillings and how to choose the right option for you.
Diving Into the Differences Between Dental Crowns and Fillings
Your trusty brain was correct to think of these two dental services. Both are restoration treatments, meaning they repair your teeth or protect them from further harm. But there are a few key differences:
- Materials. Tooth-colored fillings are often made of a composite resin, while crowns are usually porcelain. This makes both options reliable and tooth-colored, but crowns typically last longer.
- Surface area. Fillings fill in small holes in your tooth. Crowns form a cap that covers your entire pearly white.
- Treatment time. Since fillings are simpler, they can often be completed in one appointment. Properly setting and sizing a crown more often takes two visits.
Now you know how they compare physically, but what does that mean for you and your teeth? What do these restorations do?
Comparing How Dental Crowns and Fillings Help Your Teeth
Fillings repair your tooth’s structure by filling in holes left by cavities. Though the holes are often small and sometimes shallow, they can still have an impact on your teeth and oral comfort. Restoring your tooth’s surface with dental filling essentially plugs up a weak spot in your enamel’s defenses. When your enamel is whole, your teeth are better protected from infection and sensitivity.
Dental crowns shield your entire tooth. Sometimes cavities or cracks can go deeper than your surface enamel. Continuing to bite and chew with this kind of damage risks complete breakage or a serious infection – and is usually pretty uncomfortable! To avoid complications, your dentist uses crowns to support your tooth’s structure and prevent further injury.
Take it From Someone Who Knows: Your Dentist
Let’s talk about the big question: how will you know which option to choose? By consulting with your dentist!
It might seem like a cop-out, but talking to your dentist is the most sure-fire way to get the best treatment for your teeth. Since teeth are already small, it’s difficult for the average joe to know when dental damage is major or minor. Your dentist is trained to know these things, and as a professional will be able to accurately assess your oral situation. So take your restoration recommendation from someone who knows!
About the Author
Dr. Garry C. Phillips provides his patients with the best dental care possible. He keeps his office up to date with the latest technology for efficient diagnosis and natural-looking restorations. Whether you need a dental crown or filling, Dr. Phillips will make sure your smile looks good and feels great! To contact his office, call 972-712-0500. For more information about his practice, explore his website.