Do I really need a crown? My dentist wants to do one and nothing hurts.
Even though a crown is expensive, it just might save you in the long run
This is a question I address almost every day in my practice and unfortunately the answer is not always straightforward. Let’s talk a little bit about what a crown is first and why you MIGHT need one.
A crown or cap is an artificial material that fits over your existing tooth. It’s custom made by your dentist to replace any missing parts of the tooth and to reinforce it from further breakage. It may be made out of gold, porcelain, or a variety of modern ceramic materials. The outside is made to mimic the shape of your natural tooth and is glued on permanently. This process is usually one or two visits and should last you a long time.
I also probably need to talk a bit about fillings. A filling does just what the name implies. It “fills” in a missing part of the tooth – which could be from decay, breakage, or even wear over time. The dentist puts the filling material directly into the tooth using a variety of techniques, but it’s a lot like spackling over a hole in your wall with plaster, you just smoosh it in there and smooth it over. That’s it.