Crowns and fillings both serve invaluable functions for protecting your teeth against infection and decay. However, there are times when one dental treatment is more expedient than the other. In general, crowns are necessary when:
 
– Your tooth is cracked: Cracked teeth don’t heal and weaken the natural tooth structure. As such, a filling will not be sufficient to treat a cracked tooth. In these cases, a crown can give the tooth the protection it needs while keeping its natural structure intact.
– A significant portion of the tooth needs filling: The more of the tooth that is filling, the weaker it is. As such, if most of the tooth is filling, it may need a crown to reinforce it and prevent further weakening or cracking.
– You have a weak tooth: If the tooth has minimal enamel or is weak for another reason, a crown can reinforce it to keep its natural structure intact.
– You intend to cover a discolored or misshapen tooth: Crowns can also be used for cosmetic reasons. If one of your teeth is discolored and misshapen and you’d like to correct for a smile you can feel more confident in, a tooth-colored crown is a great option.
 
In contrast, fillings are acceptable and even preferred when:
 
– There are no cracks in your teeth: If your tooth’s natural structure is otherwise strong, besides the decay, a filling can do a great job. Thus, it’s essential for there to be no cracks in your teeth for a filling procedure.
– Only a small portion of the tooth is decayed: When the tooth only has a small amount of decay, fillings are the easy choice.
– You are concerned about the cost of treatment: In general, crowns are more expensive than fillings. So, if you’re looking to save money and your dentist is comfortable with a filling procedure instead of a crown, fillings may be the optimal choice.

Crowns can go over teeth with fillings. In fact, crowns are usually placed on a tooth that requires a significant filling. If the filling is larger than your existing natural tooth structure, your dentist will likely recommend putting a filling over it.
 
That said, it is not recommended to get a crown over an old filling. As such, placing a crown on a tooth with an old filling may first require removing the filling, cleaning any decay, and refilling the tooth with a tooth-colored filling.

In general, crowns last longer than fillings. Still, most fillings last for at least five years. As such, they are still a highly durable option for filling in cavities and decay. Crowns, on the other hand, can last for up to 15 years.

After a filling, you may not need a crown. If the filling stays strong and the tooth does not experience any further decay, a crown is not likely necessary. Even when the filling breaks down, your dentist can replace the old filling with a new filling. However, if the tooth continues to decay so that at around two-thirds of the tooth requires filling, your dentist will likely encourage you to strongly consider getting a crown on top of the top to protect it from further decay and damage.
 
If you’re unsure whether you need crowns or fillings, your dentist can help you decide. Here at Friends Family Dental and Orthodontics, our excellent dentists can provide either one of these treatments! For an appointment with us or more information about crowns and fillings, we welcome you to call us or make an appointment through our website. We serve patients from Brooklyn, NY, Manhattan NY, Bronx NY, Hoboken NJ, West New York NJ, and surrounding areas.