A dental crown or a filling, what's the difference?

Anyone who has spent  very much time sitting in a dental chair has probably at some point encountered the following situation., They have a tooth has had  a big cavity or has broken.After examining the tooth their dentist tells them that it can be repaired but a decision needs to be made.Should the dentist place a large filling in the tooth or should they make a dental crown for it?

Dental crowns and fillings serve different purposes.

The dental crown will cost substantially more than the filling The filling will just take one visit to complete while the dental crown two. Why not just take the cheaper, quicker route and have a filling placed?

What is the difference between a dental crown and filling?

Before you can understand why it might be important to place a crown, you must understand how they differ from dental fillings. Yes, both types of dental work can be used to restore a tooth back to its original shape but the relationship that each of these has with the tooth's remaining structure is entirely different.

Dental fillings

Fillings are dental restorations that sit within the walls of a tooth. So imagine a tooth. Then imagine a tooth that has a part missing or a cavity. A filling will simply fill in that missing portion so to restore the tooth back to its original shape. However if the tooth or decayed cavity is extensive, or too much tooth structure is missing, a filling simply won't do. 

Dental crowns

Now let's consider dental crowns and how they are different than fillings. For one thing, unlike a filling that sits within the confines of a tooth, a dental crown encases the entire tooth, unlike a filling that can be done at the office. A dental crown is made in a dental laboratory and requires a very detailed impression to be taken that the lab uses to make a tooth that is just right for your bite, your shade and your mouth.

So which will it be, the filling or the crown?

So now you know some of the factors that a dentist must weigh as they evaluate a tooth and determine if a crown or a filling should be placed.

It boils down to this

To close this up, we'll just leave you with this (admittedly exaggerated) comparison. You might be able to cross the Atlantic in a dingy boat but you'll do so more comfortably on an an ocean liner because that's the liner's intended purpose. Choosing between a dental filling and a dental  crown can be a similar comparison. A filling may be able to replace portions of a tooth that are missing but a dental crown can do so much more predictably, That's why a dental crown exits.

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