Dental Crown vs. Tooth Filling
San Jose, CA
 Dental crowns and dental fillings are two common types of solutions that the dentist may recommend to repair a decayed or damaged tooth. While the two solutions have some major differences, both are used to restore the appearance and function of a damaged or decayed tooth.
Dental Fillings
If your tooth has cavities and resulting decay, the most commonly used solution is a dental filling. The dentist will remove the part of your tooth that's affected by the cavity and use a filling material to restore the appearance and function of your teeth. This type of treatment is highly effective, especially when the damage or decay is diagnosed early. When you opt for a dental filling as a restorative treatment, it will help prevent the spread of bacteria to other parts of your tooth and tooth roots and restore the health of your damaged tooth.
Dental fillings may use porcelain and composite resin and may also use gold or silver amalgam. With appropriate oral hygiene practices, most dental fillings last for at least five years.
The procedure is quite straightforward and is relatively pain-free. You can expect the dentist to clean the part of your tooth affected by the cavity and use the filling to restore the structure.
Dental Crowns
As the name suggests, dental crowns are more like tooth caps. While they are also used to treat the decayed or damaged tooth, unlike a dental filling, dental crowns completely cover a tooth that has experienced structural loss.
Dental crowns are a customizable treatment option where a dental crown is fabricated to look and feel the same as the natural tooth. Dental crowns are made up of materials such as porcelain, composite resin, or metal-fused porcelain. You can also get a customizable gold dental crown. With proper oral hygiene practices and regular dental checkups, most dental crowns last between five and 15 years.
For a customized crown, you will need to give an impression of your tooth, so you get a dental crown that’s precisely as per the size of your original tooth. When getting a dental crown, you can expect the dentist to place the customized crown on your damaged tooth and check for fit, color, and comfort. If your dental crown fits in well, the dentist will then cement it, so the entire visible portion of your tooth that lies at and above the gum line aligns well with all your other teeth.
Schedule an Appointment Today!
If you are around San Jose, CA and have a cavity or have experienced a cracked or fractured tooth, get in touch with Nancy Shiba, DDS at Nancy Shiba, DDS. At your visit to our dental clinic, Nancy Shiba, DDS will guide you on whether dental fillings or dental crowns would be more effective for you based on your tooth's condition, the size of the cavity, and the resulting structural loss. To find out more about our dental services or to request an appointment, call us at (669) 306-7669 today! |
