Fillings vs. Crowns: Which One Do I Need?

Do you have a cavity or broken tooth? Trying to decide what to do can seem overwhelming at times. Especially if you were told you needed a crown. Can’t the tooth just be repaired with a filling, instead? Depending on the extent of your decay or damage, you’ll either need one or the other.

When to Get a Dental Filling

Dental fillings are best for treating small to medium sized cavities. Since fillings require intact tooth enamel to keep them in place, the surrounding tooth structure needs to be stable enough to withstand everyday use. So long as we intercept the decay when it’s still small, that usually isn’t a problem.

Do I Really Need a Crown?

When a cavity or fracture is so involved that it takes up a large area of tooth, there’s no longer an option to fill or patch it over. A large filling wouldn’t be able to withstand the pressure of biting or chewing and would just cause the weak tooth to break apart even more. Instead, a protective crown can cover the entire tooth and help distribute biting pressure so that things keep working normally. We typically recommend dental crowns if more than half of the tooth is compromised, cracked, decayed, or you’ve recently had a root canal.

Get a Professional Opinion

Deciding what to do about your broken or decayed tooth is simple when you have an experienced Marietta dentist by your side! Nicole Barnett DMD will work with you to fully assess your smile’s needs and decide the best restorative treatment for your situation. Call our office today to request an exam.