3 Reasons Dental Fillings Are Not Good Alternatives To Dental Crowns
Posted on: 31 July 2016
When you find out how much it will cost to get a dental crown for one of your teeth, you may wonder if there are any alternative options. Dental crowns are expensive and there really are no good alternatives; however, you might be able to save some money now and postpone the crown by choosing to have a normal filling placed in the tooth instead of a crown. Before you talk to your dentist about this, you should realize the following three things.
Your Dentist Recommended A Crown For A Reason
If your dentist recommended a crown for your tooth, it is because he or she feels a filling would not be a feasible solution for the problem. It is your mouth, though. If you prefer having a filling put in the tooth, the dentist might agree to do so; however, he or she might not guarantee the work. This means that getting a filling might be risky. If the filling doesn't stick or hold up, you might end up experiencing problems with the filling after just a few months.
A Filling Does Not Offer Equal Protection
One reason dentists recommend crowns is for the protection they offer. A crown is usually made of porcelain and is custom-made to completely cover your existing tooth. This offers exceptional protection for what is left of the tooth, and it will last for up to 15 years in most cases.
A filling can also last up to 15 years in some cases, but this is not true for all fillings. If your dentist recommended a crown, it is probably because there is decay covering a large portion of your tooth. In this situation, you would need a very large filling to fill in the holes left after the dentist removes decay. Large fillings are typically weak, which means they are more prone to breaking or falling out.
Getting A Filling Only Postpones The Crown
Getting a filling may cost anywhere from $132 to $170, whereas a dental crown generally costs $600 to $1,500, but a dental filling will not be a permanent solution. Getting a dental filling will only postpone the need for a dental crown, and this means you would have to pay for both the filling and the crown.
Dental crowns are perfect solutions for teeth that are weak or full of a lot of decay. If you would like to learn more about this, contact a dentist today.
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