What’s the Difference Between Crowns and Fillings?

There are a variety of oral health problems that require a dental crown or filling to repair them. These are two common restorative options to protect damaged teeth from further harm as well as to repair their look and structure. Though dental fillings and crowns are used for different things, many people are unaware of how they differ from each other. Keep reading to learn about the differences between crowns and fillings as well as what oral health problems they are used to correct.

What Is a Dental Crown?

Also called dental caps, crowns are restorations that are shaped like teeth and completely encircle a tooth. They are used for pearly whites that are severely damaged or decayed and are also often placed after root canal therapy.

Dental crowns can also be used for discolored or misshapen teeth. They are color-matched to the surrounding teeth to ensure that they seamlessly blend in and are usually bonded to the affected tooth using dental cement. This improves both the look and function of the tooth.

What Is a Dental Filling?

Dental fillings are restorations that can be made from a variety of materials, including, silver amalgam, plastic, porcelain, or composite. Like crowns, they restore the function as well as the look of the tooth. Composite resin is a popular crown material since it can be color-matched to the surrounding teeth. Your dentist will use a special light to harden the material before shaping and polishing it to look like your natural teeth.

How Are Crowns and Fillings Different?

Knowing the difference between crowns and fillings will help you decide which one is the best option for your beam. Fillings are used to replace the decayed portion of a tooth and are generally the best option when there isn’t a crack in the tooth or the decay is minimal.

Crowns, on the other hand, are cemented to teeth to make them stronger as well as to protect them from further harm. Your dentist will shape the tooth to ensure that the crown fits over it properly and without disrupting your bite. Crowns are best for teeth that are cracked, discolored, weak, misshapen, or have a large portion of them that need to be filled.

About the Practice

Dr. Julie Boerger, Dr. Gary A. Rosenfeld, Dr. Michael Wakily, Dr. Jessica Henner, Dr. Daniella Apostol, and Dr. Yumee Yang are the six talented dentists who lead the team at East Islip Dental Care. They offer patients treatments like dental crowns and filling to repair damaged smiles and can help you understand the difference between these two treatments. If you are ready to set up a consultation with East Islip Dental Care or want more information on their services, call their office at (631) 581-8600 or visit their website to get started.