Fillings or Crowns: Which Is The Best Option For You?

Have a tooth that’s damaged or decaying? You might be wondering which treatment will give the best results – a simple filling or a more comprehensive dental crown. At Purity Dental we offer both along with a range of other restorative treatments. What our expert dentist will recommend for you will depend on factors such as your requirements and the extent of damage.

WHAT ARE DENTAL CROWNS? 

Dental crowns are protective caps that are custom-made for your tooth to cover a worn or damaged tooth. Made from materials such as porcelain, metal or ceramic, these crowns can restore your smile and prevent further damage to the tooth. 

Our dentist at Purity Dental may recommend dental crowns if you have: 

• A broken tooth 
• A weak tooth that needs protection to prevent further damage
• A large cavity or severe tooth decay
• A tooth that needs a large filling
• A stained or discoloured tooth
• A tooth that has undergone a root canal treatment 
• Replaced a missing tooth with an implant 
• Cracked or fractured teeth

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns offer a range of benefits, such as: 

• Protects weak or damaged teeth from further damage 
• Restores functionality to your teeth, allowing you to chew, eat and speak with ease
• Custom-made to provide a natural look and feel 
• Tooth-coloured crowns can blend in seamlessly with surrounding teeth
• Protects your teeth after a root canal 
• Improves the appearance of your smile and boosts confidence

What are Dental Fillings? 

Dental fillings are commonly used to address minor cases of tooth decay and cavities. Left untreated, cavities and decay can grow, creating a need for more invasive, complex and costly treatment. A dental filling will remove the decayed portion of your tooth and fill the space with filling material, preventing further decay and restoring strength and functionality to the affected tooth. 

Dental fillings can be used for: 

• Minor tooth damage 
• Small cavities 
• Tooth wear 
• Minor cases of tooth decay where the underlying tooth structures have not been affected
• Minor tooth discolouration 

Benefits of Dental Fillings

• Prevents cavities from growing and affecting a larger part of the tooth
• Restores and strengthens the affected tooth 
• Restores functionality of broken and worn down teeth
• Improves the appearance of your smile 
• Protects your teeth from decay 

Dental Crowns Vs. Dental Fillings

If you are debating which option is best suited for you, it’s important to take into account the following factors: 

Severity of the damage

One of the biggest factors considered when deciding between a crown or filling is the extent of the structural damage. Crowns are designed to cover and protect your entire tooth whereas a filling is used to patch smaller areas of decay. So, if you have a large cavity, crack or severely worn down tooth, a crown might be the best option for you. On the other hand, fillings are a more suitable option if there is little damage to your tooth or minor decay.

Amount of healthy enamel left

When placing a filling in a tooth with a little amount of healthy enamel left, the chances of it breaking apart when chewing or eating your food is quite high. In this instance, a crown has a better likelihood of withstanding everyday use.

After a root canal

If you have a severely infected or damaged tooth, we may perform a root canal to save the tooth without extracting it. After root canal treatment, where the infected dental pulp is removed, the tooth can be quite brittle, making it more prone to breakage and chipping compared to your other teeth with living nerves. The standard practice after a root canal is to place a temporary filling until you can come back to get a crown fitted over the tooth to enhance protection and strength.

Replacing an old filling

When an old filling is taken out, the tooth around it has to be prepped once more for a new filling. Replacing older silver fillings usually involves a significant amount of structural loss, making it an unstable environment for a new filling. Placing a new filling will result in breakage once pressure is applied.

YOUR ORAL HEALTH

Our dentists at Purity Dental will perform a comprehensive assessment of your mouth before recommending a suitable solution for you. If your oral health is in good condition with minor tooth damage or decay, we will use dental fillings to restore your tooth. If you have extensive decay or damage, we will use crowns to restore the tooth and function. 

Both dental crowns and fillings are common and extremely useful restorative solutions. However, the right procedure for you depends on your dental needs. If you have a damaged tooth that’s causing you pain or discomfort, reach out to our team at Purity Dental today at (03) 9540 8900 to schedule your consultation, and we’ll help determine which treatment best suits your needs!