Most often, teeth damage is caused by injury or decay due to various internal and external factors. Both crowns and fillings are categorized as dental restorations through which damaged teeth can be repaired or restored. Restorative dentistry can be divided into two categories - direct and indirect. In case of direct restoration, the dentist repairs your tooth by identifying the gap or defect in your tooth and filling it. On the other hand, in case of indirect restoration, a prosthetic (such as the crown) is created manually and then inserted in to the mouth. Crowns or fillings are identical to the normal tooth in terms of appearance and functionality. To understand the differences between a dental crown and fillings, you must first gain the basic knowledge of what they are.
WHAT IS A CROWN?
Dental crowns are used when a tooth is too damaged to be repaired by a dental filling. For instance, in cases of severe cavities and infections in the root canal. Here are a few circumstances under which dental crowns can be used: To improve the appearance of your smile To affix and attach a dental bridge Strengthen a weak tooth Cover a dental implant To support fragments of your natural teeth Dental crowns or caps can be made using a variety of materials, including porcelain fused to metal, gold and porcelain. Porcelain crowns are used extensively, as they match the colour and appearance of teeth the best. They are ideally used to restore the front teeth. Gold crowns are the most durable option as they have a high resistance to corrosion. Crowns made of porcelain fused with metal have a structure holding them in place and therefore, are long-lasting. As opposed to using dental implants, a combination of crowns with bridges provides much more stability in terms of speaking and chewing. Moreover, they are affordable, permanent and look like real teeth. WHAT IS A FILLING?
Fillings are used to fix teeth which haven’t been damaged considerably. The decayed tooth material is extracted, after which the tooth is washed, cleaned and filled. The materials used for fillings include: • Amalgam: Also known as “silver-coloured fillings”, they are a combination of tin, copper, mercury and silver. A widely used filling, amalgam is long-lasting and affordable. The only disadvantage of is that the colour isn’t the same as that of natural teeth. • Gold: Gold has been a favourite in dentistry for more than a thousand years now. It is durable and lasts longer. The only drawback of gold filling is that it doesn’t look like original teeth. • Composite resin: It is a mixture of quartz or glass that provides resistance to tooth fracture and can sustain moderate pressure from chewing. They are tooth-coloured and are used for both front and back teeth. They are used to prevent teeth deterioration and help repair the damage by sealing the gaps through which bacteria can seep in. Fillings offer a quick solution for minor tooth damage and hold the integrity of the tooth’s structure. They are cheaper than crowns and need to be refilled periodically. In case of severe tooth damage, a combination of crown and filing is used. Your dentist will help determine whether you need to get a dental crown or fillings. To know more about your dental health, get routine appointments scheduled with your doctor. Our dentists at Nordel Dental Clinic have experience in treating children, patients with special needs and take good care of anyone who comes to us. We completely understand that most people tend to feel nervous when they visit a dentist; and we try to ease the situation as much as possible. With us, you can expect to have a comfortable and relaxing experience. Our services include: fillings, crowns, tooth extractions,teeth whitening and emergency dentistry. To know more about our services, contact us.