Dental Crowns vs. Fillings

If you have a tooth that is damaged or decayed in some way, your dentist will have many different options available to help fix that tooth. There’s a wide range in terms of the effectiveness of these treatments, and when you visit Maryland cosmetic dentist Dr. Martin G. Abel or Dr. Shannon E. Abel, they will be able to determine the best treatment option to meet your needs.

In general, to treat tooth decay and tooth damage, you have dental fillings at one end of the spectrum and dental crowns at the other. We’d like to take a moment right now to look at the differences between the two of these. It may be readily apparent to some of you right now, but a lot of people could use some clarification.

First off, let’s look at dental fillings. We’re sure that you’ve probably had a filling or two (or more) in your time. In basic terms, a dental filling is a small composite or metal-amalgam restoration that is used to fill a cavity in a tooth. This will help halt the progress of tooth decay so it does not harm the interior structures of the tooth and surrounding tooth material. In the case of composite dental fillings (which are tooth-colored), they perform a cosmetic function as well.

Now let’s look at Maryland dental crowns. Dental crowns are caps that are placed atop a tooth that has been severely chipped, cracked, decayed, or otherwise damaged. The dental crown will restore the appearance of the tooth, provide proper structure for the tooth, and will also protect you from any pain or discomfort that is associated with the damaged tooth. If you get a single dental implant, a dental crown is used to cap the abutment.

So which one is right for you? It all depends on your situation, and there are many steps between dental fillings and dental crowns. In some cases, porcelain dental veneers or tooth bonding may be better options, but it’s important that we make that evaluation at the office.

To schedule an appointment and to learn more about all of your dental treatment options, contact our Rockville, Maryland cosmetic dentistry practice today.