If you suffer a cavity or other tooth damage, you should fix it soon. You’ll put your pearly white at risk otherwise. In particular, getting a crown or a filling would be a good idea. Both have the power to help weakened teeth! Still, you may not know which option is best. After all, just what is the difference between dental crowns and fillings? It’s a good thing, then, that your Little Rock dentist can help you make a good choice. Here is a summary, therefore, of these two procedures’ varying features.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Put simply, a dental crown is a sort of “cap” placed over a tooth’s visible portion. In particular, it’s cemented into place on your tooth after the latter is reshaped. Once secured, the cap’s role is to restore your pearly white’s shape, size, strength, and appearance.
Often enough, crowns can be made of various materials. In years past, they relied on metals like gold, nickel, and titanium. More recently, though, crowns use porcelain or resin to ensure they match the color of surrounding teeth.
What Are Dental Fillings?
Dental fillings are combinations of various materials used to repair teeth. Per their name, they mainly “fill in” a dental area removed due to decay. They thus keep bacteria from causing further damage while preserving most of a tooth’s structure.
As with crowns, labs make fillings from a variety of substances. Some are made of gold, porcelain, or silver amalgam, while others rely on tooth-colored composite resin. Which of these a dentist uses will depend on your situation.
Which Should You Get?
Ultimately, the kind of tooth damage you have will influence whether a crown or filling is best.
For instance, you may want a crown if your tooth is cracked. Since such cracks don’t heal on their own, the prosthetic would hold the tooth together so it doesn’t break down further. If you also have discoloration, a crown could also cover the latter due to color-matching your smile.
Fillings, meanwhile, work better when there are no cracks. Their materials rely on the tooth’s strength to function, as the treatment’s job is to replace tooth structures damaged by decay. Plus, you’ll benefit more from a filling if the decayed area is small.
As you can see, the difference between dental crowns and fillings is a meaningful one. Therefore, talk to your dentist before deciding on your final treatment. They’ll be able to recommend the procedure that best meets your needs.
About the Practice
Little Rock Family Dental Care is based in Little Rock, AR. Led by Dr. Randy Machen and his fellow dentists, our practice can meet all of your family’s dental needs. To that end, we offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative care for patients of all ages. Our team also provides emergency dental treatments and sedation services. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (501)-954-9900.