In a perfect world, you’ll never need any dental treatments beyond a routine cleaning every six months or so. But the truth is that you may need a dental crown or filling at some point during your lifetime. Fortunately, an experienced dentist can place a dental filling or a custom crown and restore your smile’s beauty and functionality.
Both fillings and crowns are common dental restorations, and our goal is to help you achieve the best oral health possible.
So, let’s explore how dentists decide whether you need a crown or just a filling and why hearing the words “dental crown” shouldn’t be a reason for concern.
Crown vs. Filling: What’s the Difference?
A dental filling is used to repair tooth damage or decay, while a dental crown completely covers your tooth, acting as a protective cap.
As a rule, dental fillings are used for minor damage, and dental crowns are used for more extensive damage.
Your trusted Glendale dentist can discuss your options with you and help you decide which treatment is best for your situation.
Although a dental crown usually costs more than a filling, it will likely last longer. And sometimes, a filling isn’t a viable treatment option.
What a Filling Can (and Can't) Fix
Tooth-colored composite fillings are an excellent way to repair mild to moderate dental concerns, including cavities, chipped or cracked teeth, or worn tooth surfaces.
However, these are the issues a dental filling can’t fix:
- Severe tooth decay
- Deep nerve damage
- Missing teeth
- Severely weakened or broken teeth
When a Crown Becomes Necessary
At Lucio H. Kim, DDS, our primary concern is keeping your teeth healthy and happy. So, if we recommend a dental crown, numerous factors affect our decision.
According to the American Dental Association, here are the most common reasons you may need a dental crown:
- Extensive decay — If you have tooth decay that is too extensive for a filling, a dental crown may be a better option.
- Tooth damage — For a damaged tooth that needs protection, a crown can enable you to bite down and chew your favorite foods.
- After a root canal — Root canal therapy weakens your tooth, and to keep it intact and structurally sound, a crown is often the best choice.
- Misshapen or discolored tooth — When your tooth isn’t the same shape or size as your other teeth, or if it’s badly discolored, a dental crown can give you the seamless look you want.
- To hold a dental bridge — If you need a dental bridge to replace one or more missing teeth, a dental crown is added to your adjacent teeth to support the bridge and complete your smile.
- To cover a dental implant — A custom dental crown is the final step in the dental implant process, giving you a more functional, attractive smile.
What to Expect at Each Type of Appointment
When you visit us for a filling or dental crown, here’s what will happen at your appointment:
Dental filling — We’ll use a local anesthetic to numb your mouth. Then, using special tools, we’ll remove any decay or tooth damage and clean the area. Next, we’ll place composite resin into the cavity before hardening the material with a blue light. Before you leave, we’ll check your bite and polish your tooth.
Dental crown — You’ll visit our office two times for your dental crown. During your first visit, we’ll numb your mouth so you won’t feel anything and then shape your natural tooth, making room for the dental crown. Then, we’ll take impressions of the area so the dental lab can create your custom crown. We’ll place a temporary crown over your tooth to protect it until your crown is back from the lab.
During your second visit, we’ll remove the temporary crown and clean the area before bonding the permanent crown in place. Before you leave, we’ll check the color, shape, and size. We’ll also check your bite alignment to ensure your new crown feels natural.
Looking for Dental Care in Glendale, CA?
So, instead of searching online for “when do you need a dental crown,” we hope you’ll contact our Glendale, CA, dental office! Our caring team will happily assess your oral health needs, answer your questions, and help you make an informed decision based on our findings.
To schedule a consultation or appointment, please feel free to call our office at (818) 242-3739.
We look forward to hearing from you!