San Francisco and Marin CA
If you have a toothache, it’s not something you should wait out or ignore. Frequent or recurring tooth pain can impede your ability to function in your everyday life. Like any other kind of pain, a toothache is your body’s way of signaling you that something is wrong. Decay is one of the most common causes of tooth pain and, depending on the extent of the damage done, you might need a filling to repair the damage–or, in cases of greater damage, a crown. How do you know which is the right treatment? Find out in this article from your San Francisco dentist at Glen Park Dental.
Fillings vs. Crowns
Dental crowns are generally used to repair severely damaged teeth. Fillings, meanwhile, are used to treat smaller areas of decay and damage. Here’s a short breakdown comparing these two different types of restorations.
Fillings
- Is bonded directly to the tooth, replacing any refilling any portion of the tooth that was removed
- Can be completed in a single appointment, with no need for impressions
- May be used to replace an existing filling that has cracked, loosened or been weakened due to additional decay
Crowns
- Replaces the entire exterior of a tooth, preventing tooth loss
- Requires impressions, but still can be made in a single appointment thanks to our state-of-the-art chairside fabrication technology
- Also used to complete both a root canal and a dental implant procedure
How do I know if I need a crown or a filling?
If you need to repair a cavity in Oakland, and the area of decay is small enough, your dentist should be able to remove it and treat the tooth with a filling. At Glen Park Dental, we offer tooth-colored fillings made of a composite material. These fillings are bonded directly to your tooth, making them less susceptible to breakage or damage from the natural temperature changes in your mouth when you eat and drink.
Most patients like that fillings are far less invasive and less costly than crowns. And, by working with composite materials, a filling at Glen Park Dental can be matched to the shade of your other, natural teeth, allowing the restored tooth to blend seamlessly into your smile.
However, once a cavity reaches a certain size, a filling is not capable of restoring the damage. That’s where crowns come in; a crown covers the entire tooth above the gum line, restoring both the function and form of the tooth. Glen Park Dental offers crowns that are either made entirely of dental porcelain, or have porcelain covering a metal substructure. These PFM, or porcelain-fused-to-metal, have the same strength as the metal crowns that were used in traditional dental work.
Restorative dentistry in San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, California
So, do you need a filling or crown? This question only can be answered on a case-by-case basis and the best way to decide if fillings or crowns are right for your dental needs is to visit your dentist. Choose wisely and visit the team at Glen Park Dental. Our team of oral health professionals is here to serve you. Schedule an appointment today by calling (415) 585-1500 or complete our convenient online form.
