A dental crown and tooth-colored filling are both effective restorative dental treatments, but which one is a better choice for your oral health? Well, it depends. Each option has its own time and place in which it would be most appropriate. Ultimately, our Troy, MI, dentist will choose what’s best for your situation, but it can’t hurt to learn more about what the two procedures have to offer.
Here are the differences (and similarities) between tooth fillings and porcelain dental crowns.
Side-By-Side Comparison
As mentioned above, and fillings are both common restorative methods, but they serve different purposes and are used in varying situations. While white fillings are typically used to repair minor cavities and small-scale damage, porcelain crowns are often employed for severely affected teeth.
Crowns are also:
- More expensive
- Completed in 2 dental visits
- Used to fully cover teeth
- Created using digital impressions
Fillings are also:
- More affordable
- Completed in 1 dental visit
- Able to fill in decayed teeth
- Not created using impressions
- Free of recovery time
When Crowns Are the Best Choice
The dental crown procedure is best suited for severely damaged and weakened teeth, though they can be used for minor damage (like stubborn tooth discoloration) as well. In cases where the tooth has a lot of damage, a filling would not be enough to properly restore the tooth.
Instead, a tooth crown would be used for the job. Dental crowns are caps that cover decayed or cracked teeth. They protect the tooth from experiencing any further damage and sensitivity. When it comes to durability, crowns take the cake over tooth fillings. Because of this and the need for impressions, tends to cost more than fillings.
Dental crowns also cover the entire visible portion of your tooth above the gum line, lending extra support. If taken care of each day, crowns can have a lifespan of up to 15 years on average. While this is typically longer than fillings, they do require that a small amount of tooth enamel be removed.
Our local dental crown dentist will be able to advise you on whether one is necessary for the amount of tooth damage present. Teeth that have been weakened by repeated restorative dental treatments may also benefit by being fitted for dental crowns. Additionally, this option can also be used to cover a dental implant or hold a dental bridge in place.
In order to apply a dental crown, we’ll need to custom-make the tooth cap to fit your smile. Then, the natural tooth will be shaved down so that the crown can fit over it. This will take two trips to our Troy, MI, dental office to complete.
When Fillings Are the Best Choice
Fillings are meant for teeth that have minor tooth decay or damage. So, if you only have a small cavity or chip in your tooth, getting a tooth filled would make the most sense. You can, however, still get a crown if you’d like, but the downside is the higher cost and slight enamel removal.
Like the name suggests, cavity fillings are made out of silver amalgam or composite resin and fill in small areas in your tooth that have decayed or been otherwise damaged. Many patients appreciate fillings because they are less invasive than dental crowns.
During the procedure, we will drill to remove any decayed tooth matter and will then fill in the tooth with dental amalgam or composite resin material. Unlike crowns, fillings only take one visit to complete and because the process is not as involved, the cost of fillings is significantly less than that of crowns.
To prepare a tooth for a porcelain crown, the natural enamel must be filed down so the crown can easily fit over the top. With fillings, you are preserving as much enamel as possible to fill in only those areas that are damaged. also match the color of your natural tooth enamel which is perfect for teeth that show when you smile and talk.
The recovery period for a filling is short. After any local anesthetic has worn off, you’ll be able to eat and speak normally. Some minor sensitivity is normal right after your appointment, but it should dissipate fairly quickly.
Make an Appointment Today
As you can see, there really isn’t a clear-cut winner when it comes to fillings and crowns. It all comes down to your specific situation and how much time and money you’re willing to invest. Regardless of your choice, you’re in good hands with our family dentist in Troy, MI. Call Mosaic Dental today at (248) 528-2270 to schedule an appointment.
This blog post has been updated.
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