Tooth Filling or Crown? How to Tell What Your Tooth Needs

You have a cavity, a cracked tooth or an old filling that has failed, and you want to know whether a simple filling will do. It is one of the most common questions we hear from Liverpool patients, and the answer comes down to how much healthy tooth is left.

When a filling is enough

• The cavity is small to medium and the walls of the tooth are still thick and strong
• A small chip on a front tooth, or a small gap you would like closed
• An old filling has worn but the tooth around it is sound

A tooth-coloured composite filling is bonded directly to the tooth, usually in one visit of 20 to 40 minutes.

When a filling is not enough

• More than about half of the tooth is already filling
• The tooth has a crack, or hurts when you bite and release
• A back tooth has had root canal treatment and has become brittle
• The same filling keeps breaking or falling out

A filling patches a hole. A crown covers the whole tooth and holds it together. Putting a large filling into a weak tooth often ends with the tooth splitting, sometimes below the gum, where it can no longer be saved.

What decay feels like, and when it does not

Sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold, food catching in one spot, or a dark mark on the tooth are the usual signs. But decay often does not hurt until it is deep, which is why most small cavities are found at a routine check-up and X-ray rather than by the patient.

What it costs

A filling is one of the least expensive treatments in dentistry, and most health funds pay a rebate for it under general dental. Children can have fillings under the Medicare CDBS. We give you the cost before we start.

Think you need a filling? See our tooth fillings in Liverpool page. Book online or call (02) 9822 7107.