A Guide To The Difference Between Crowns And Fillings

There are many treatment options available for patients with oral health problems when it comes to dental health. There are two types of dental restoration: dental crown and filling. These two are common treatment procedures, and most people do not know the right one to choose. In this guide, we will learn more about dental crowns and fillings.

What Is A Dental Crown?

Unlike fillings, where the substance is placed inside the tooth, a crown covers the whole outer surface of the tooth from the gum line to the crown, allowing the tooth to regain its original functionality, size, and appearance.

Types Of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns also come in a variety of materials and vary in characteristics such as appearance, strength, and cost. These include:

• Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns (PFM): These products combine the qualities of metal and porcelain looks. They also blend with natural teeth; most are used on front or back teeth. However, the porcelain, which is the main body of the bench, can chip or even break at a certain point in time.
• Metal crowns: These can be made of alloy gold, palladium, or alloys such as nickel and chromium. Metal crowns resist lateral and occlusal forces from chewing and other lingual forces. However, due to their metallic color, they are not suitable for visible teeth.
• Resin crowns: These crowns are made of composite resin. They are cheaper than other dental crowns but cannot last as long as other options on the market. They are also more vulnerable to wearing and fracture and are utilized to form provisional crowns.

What Are Dental Fillings?

Tooth fillings restore minor cavities, hairline fractures, or abrasions in the tooth’s surface. The dentist goes into the tooth, removes the decayed or damaged area, and then places a filling material in the cavity. This makes the tooth strong, shaped right, and functional and stops further decay that could have been painful.

Types Of Dental Fillings

Dental fillings come in a few forms, and each type has benefits for dental care. Here are the most common ones:

• Silver fillings: These fillings are recognized for their low price and high outcomes in terms of the sturdiness level of the fillings. However, it has mercury and is relatively conspicuous because the color is black, similar to silver.
• Composite resin fillings: It is used primarily due to the natural appearance and the strength of these tooth-colored fillings.
• Glass ionomer fillings: These fillings dissolve a material called fluoride, which can be used to strengthen the surrounding tooth structure. They are commonly applied in the filling of teeth close to the gums or those of infants. However, they also do not bind enamel and silver alloys and resin alloys. This makes them fragile and can break or wear out easily.
• Ceramic filling: Using porcelain ceramic filling gives it a more natural look and can be easier to use as compared to composite materials as it does not scratch easily. They also give great durability, but this is a bit costly as the price of gold itself.

Dental Crown Vs. Filling

1. Tooth Structure
Dental crowns entail recontouring and reshaping the tooth’s outer covering to make this the perfect tooth-top crown. This gives a completely increased efficiency solution and, as a result, minimal stability and durability compared to a complete tooth structure restoration.

2. Severity of Decay
A dental crown occurs when a tooth is severely damaged or broken. Where decay has spread deep, a dental crown can cover, strengthen, and preserve any remaining tooth structure intact. Conversely, fillings are placed in those teeth that are mild to moderately affected by dental decay. Filling material may not be sufficient to support the tooth if the decay is severe; hence, the material may not be very effective and durable.

3. Aesthetic Considerations
Dental crowns could be put in place since you can have them made to match your natural teeth’ color, shape, and size; thus, you can smile fully with your teeth. While doing so, they offer a beautiful appearance compared to old restorative materials that only restore function and teeth health.

While being very cosmetic in that they can be made to blend in with the rest of the teeth in terms of color, fillings are one of the least natural-looking restorative procedures that are available, and for those present in the anterior aspect of the mouth, may not be the most cosmetic.

4. Longevity
Dental crowns often last longer than fillings since, aside from being constructed from durable elements, they extraordinarily cover and strengthen the tooth structure. Although they may require replacement more often than average because of wear and tear or new decay, crowns are less susceptible to these problems because of their encapsulating design.

Constant checkups and cleaning always improve dental restoration; thus, crowns also have an advantage on this front.

5. Dental Procedures
Dental crown procedures are, however, more complex and may take more than one dental visit. This investment of time to produce VSF material yields a stronger and more permanent restoration. However, taking shortcuts can sometimes result in a loss of efficiency in the restoration process.

Conclusion: Dental Filling Vs Crown: Which Is Better?

Fillings and crowns are two treatment types used to help repair broken or decayed teeth. The severity of the damage normally informs the decision as to which one to use for the tooth and the patient’s damage.

A filling is more conservative and is used for small cavities or chips. It is one of the most inexpensive methods, and composite resins give it an organic look. On the other hand, dental crowns are most often applied to more significant problems in teeth and gums. They fully cover and protect the tooth and are preferred for badly decayed, fractured, or weakened teeth.
However, it is important to seek the services of dentists like Azle Dental who will examine your mouth and advise you on the right course of action.