Dental Filling, Amalgam Filling, Composite Resin Filling, Dental restoration, Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix, Gilbert, ArizonaAlmost once every few days, my patient would ask me if I can put a filling on the tooth even though I recommend a crown.  Well, I can see why the  patient might want a filling since the filling is less expensive than the crown and also the tooth does not need to get grind down.  Or maybe the patient is afraid of the long dental procedure.

Many times, when I recommend crown because the tooth is not strong enough even after the filling is filled in the defect.  Either the cavity is too large, or the remaining tooth structure is too thin or there is a crack line within the tooth.

But from the patient’s perspective, they might see only a hole and they think it just needs to be filled simply.

Often a filling might serve a temporary purpose.  It eventually might need a crown.  However, there is a risk of further tooth fracture if the crown is not placed.

For instance, on last Monday, my patient came in with a dental emergency.  He calls me in the morning saying he has broken his tooth.  I take some xray images but it doesnot show any abnormality.  However, as soon as I check inside his mouth, I see the one third of his tooth is broken off.  It has a small innocent looking filling at the center of the tooth.  Luckily, after thorough examination, I check that his remaining tooth can be repaired.  I would need to do what’s called the “buildup” of the tooth.  Essentially, I would put a hard core material and shape it according to the tooth.  The core material would serve as a foundation to support the crown which I will put on later on this tooth.

On the same day, I have started the crown procedure, and after a few days later, he would have his crown made.  Meanwhile, he would happily be wearing a temporary crown and be able to chew and he will be flying to Taiwan for business trip.

So for a tooth with a large filling, it is better to have a crown.  Otherwise, the tooth would have a risk of cracking.  Luckily, in the above scenario, I was able to save the tooth and still be able to give the patient his crown.  But in some situation, it would require more work, for example to do root canal therapy, etc, in addition to the crown.  Or the tooth might be unrepairable that it needs to be taken out.

Written by Daniel Tee, DDS, MS
Practicing Dentist Serving Tempe, Chandler, Phoenix, Mesa, and Gilbert Arizona

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