Did you know that 92% of American adults aged 20 to 64 have had tooth decay (also called dental cavities or dental caries) in their permanent teeth? Are you dealing with such a scenario yourself and wondering what the right course of action would be?

There are two options when you have dental cavities. You can decide between the dental crown vs. filling route. If you are not sure, which option is best for you, keep reading our brief guide below.

What Is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is when a prosthetic tooth, usually made of ceramic or porcelain, is placed on top of your existing tooth. Crowns look and feel like real teeth and it’s quite easy to speak and chew with them in your mouth.

What Is a Dental Filling?

When you have a dental cavity that’s still pretty minor, the dentist will insert a filling into the hole in your mouth that’s formed due to these cavities. These fillings are made of silver, porcelain, or composite resin. You won’t need to worry about the cost of cavity filling since it’s a cheaper solution.

How to Choose between Dental Crown vs. Filling

Both dental crowns and fillings can last years and protect your tooth from further decay. So they are both great options when you have a dental cavity. But the difference lies in the amount of dental decay that your tooth has experienced.

If you have significant dental decay, so much so that your tooth has deteriorated quite a bit, then a dental crown would be more appropriate. A dental crown can be placed on a tooth even when only 1/4th of the tooth remains, due to decay.

On the other hand, if you have a tooth that’s mildly affected by decay, but hasn’t started disintegrating away, then a filling would be more suitable.

In either case, you must visit a dentist right away if you notice that your tooth is displaying signs of cavities. Some of these signs are:

  • Toothache
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Brown, black, or white stains on the surface of any tooth
  • Visible holes or pits in your teeth
  • Pain when biting down

The quicker a dentist can get to your diseased tooth, the easier it will be for them to take some preventive action so that you don’t lose your entire tooth to decay.

If you have decided on dental crowns already, then contact https://www.edatampa.com/services/dental-crowns to get yourself fitted for some beautiful new crowns.

You Will Miss Your Perfect Teeth When You Are Older

It’s easy to dismiss your pristine white teeth when you are younger, but when you get older, you will start missing them. That’s why it’s important not only to take care of your teeth as much as you can but to go for regular dental checkups, so they can help you decide between dental crown vs. filling when the time comes.

If you enjoyed reading this article, then check out other related posts on our website and keep learning.