Determining whether a crown or a filling is necessary is not always completely straightforward. In some instances, the best choice is a partial crown, referred to as an onlay. The dentist will ultimately make a recommendation based on a variety of factors like the amount of tooth remaining after the old filling and decay are taken out.
Here is a look at some of the top considerations when deciding between a filling and a crown.
The Condition of the Remaining Tooth
The stability and health of the leftover tooth structure matter a great deal. If ample tooth remains and it is in good shape, a composite filling will prove to be a durable solution. If the leftover tooth is fragile, a partial crown or a full crown can act in place of the tooth structure. The crown will also bolster the tooth's strength against fractures. If a tooth fracture occurs, a root canal might be necessary. In the worst case, an extraction will be necessary.
The Patient’s Likeliness to Endure Decay or a Tooth Fracture
If there is a good chance the patient will suffer tooth fracture or decay, there is also a heightened chance of cavities. Others are especially hard on their teeth or have a heavy bite. A crown makes the most sense in these instances as a filling has the potential to fracture and spur tooth loss or root canal therapy. A crown is a porcelain or ceramic prosthetic tooth that fits over the current tooth.
If a patient decides to choose a dental crown and properly maintains it, then the dental crown has the potential to last upwards of a decade and a half, if not longer. We can also combine crowns with bridges to provide additional stability when chewing and eating.
When Fillings Will Suffice
Think of crowns as ideal for instances of considerable tooth decay and fillings as a means of restoring teeth with less damage. Another difference between these two oral health solutions is that we do not remove any tooth material when adding a dental crown that rests directly over the tooth. A filling involves the removal of decayed tooth material, a cleaning of the tooth and then placing the filling. Fillings are ideal for people looking to maintain as much of their natural tooth structure as possible. They seal the tooth better than many other oral health solutions and also provide the stability that wards off fractures and splitting.
Patients who need minor improvements will benefit from a composite filling material that bonds to the teeth and enhances their visual appeal. Fillings consisting of composite resin have the appearance of regular teeth. Thus, there is no reason to worry about the appearance of your teeth following a filling. The end result will be a lovely-looking mouth with visual uniformity and symmetry. No one will have any idea you have a filling unless they are within inches of your teeth.
Call AC Dental of Linden at (908) 905-0747 to schedule an appointment in our Linden office.
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We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.
Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.
Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.
You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:
Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.
We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.
We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (908) 862-7171 or visit our website at https://dentistlindennj.com/.
Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.