How Do I Know if I Need a Dental Crown? Although a crown and filling are both used to restore decayed or broken teeth, crowns differ greatly from dental fillings. Fillings are used to “fill” holes in the tooth left by decay. Instead of patching up smaller areas, a full-coverage dental crown may be needed because of one of the following reasons.
Following a Root Canal
Once a tooth has had root canal therapy, it is no longer vital. The enamel becomes brittle and can wear down from everyday use. Putting a dental crown over a tooth with a root canal can allow it to continue functioning as normal for many more years to come.
Severe Decay or Fractures
To fill a tooth, you need enough tooth structure to hold a restoration in place without giving in to pressure. If a cavity or fracture is so large that a filling would fall out or easily break the tooth off, it would be better to cover the tooth instead of filling it. Dental crowns will extend over all of the surfaces visible above the gumline, distributing pressure across its surface so that you can bite and chew normally.
Replacing an Old, Large Filling
If you have a very large, old metal filling, it is only a matter of time before it starts to leak or give out. Unfortunately, once you remove a dental filling, you also have to re-prep the area around it to refill the tooth. When fillings are large, you run into the problem of (once again) not having enough healthy structure to support the filling. The next step would be to crown the tooth.
Delaying your dental crown can put your tooth at risk for continued fracture, decay, or wear to the point where it is no longer restorable. Instead of having your tooth pulled, schedule your dental crown appointment with us here at Cox Family Dentistry in Plano, TX today!
