A damaged tooth does not automatically need a crown. A smaller cavity or chip may be repaired with a filling. A tooth that has lost more structure because of a large filling, a crack, decay, or wear may need the added coverage of a crown.
Why one tooth needs a filling and another needs a crown
Location matters, as does the amount of tooth left and the pressure it takes when you bite. Front teeth and back teeth do different jobs. We’ll also look at the condition of any older dental work and whether the nerve inside the tooth appears healthy.
If a repair is recommended, we’ll point out the problem on an X-ray, photograph, or mirror whenever we can. You are welcome to ask how the repair is done, how to look after it, and whether there is another reasonable approach.