What is the difference between a filling and a crown?

What is the difference between a filling and a crown?

Cleveland Clinic describes a filling as treatment that removes decay and fills the space, with direct fillings placed in one visit and indirect ones, such as inlays and onlays, made in a lab, usually over two visits. Cleveland Clinic and the ADA describe a crown as a cap placed over a tooth to restore its shape, size and strength and improve its appearance. The ADA says a crown is used when too little tooth remains to support a large filling. In short, a filling repairs part of the tooth, while a crown covers all of what is above the gum.

What is a composite filling?

Cleveland Clinic lists resin composite as a tooth-colored direct filling, alongside amalgam, which is silver-colored and contains mercury, and glass ionomer, which is also tooth-colored. Gold and porcelain are indirect fillings made in a lab. The page does not give the exact makeup of composite. Healthline's eating page says composite fillings can be chewed on once numbness fades, while amalgam fillings need about 24 hours to fully set.

What is the best filling material?

The sources we read do not rank materials. Cleveland Clinic says some fillings can last up to 20 years depending on the material, giving a range of 10 to 20 years for fillings generally. The right material depends on the tooth, the size of the cavity and your bite, so ask your dentist why they recommend one.

What are crowns made of?

Cleveland Clinic lists metal crowns, which rarely chip and last longest but have a metallic color, porcelain-fused-to-metal, pressed ceramic, all-ceramic or porcelain crowns, which look most like natural enamel and suit people with metal allergies, zirconia, which is very durable and gentler on opposing teeth, and resin, which is less expensive but more fragile and often used for temporary crowns.

When do you need a crown instead of a filling?

The ADA lists supporting a tooth with a large filling when too little tooth remains, protecting a weak tooth from breaking, repairing a broken tooth, anchoring bridges and covering a dental implant, and Cleveland Clinic says a crown may be placed after a root canal to strengthen the tooth. A small to moderate cavity is usually filled. Which one you need is your dentist's decision after examining the tooth.

What is a high filling?

A high filling is one that is too tall so your bite feels off. Healthline says the most common cause of sensitivity after a filling is a bite that feels off, which the dentist can adjust to better match your other teeth. Tell your dentist if a filling or crown feels high.

What do dentists do at a filling appointment?

Cleveland Clinic says you can eat as soon as the procedure ends but should wait for numbness to wear off, that mild sensitivity and gum soreness usually fade within a week or two, and to call your dentist right away if the filling breaks or you have severe pain, a swollen face or jaw, or fever. Our guides on fillings and crowns explain what to expect.

How long does each last?

Cleveland Clinic says some fillings can last up to 20 years depending on the material, and gives a range of 10 to 20 years for fillings generally. For crowns it says metal crowns last longest and rarely chip, resin crowns are often used as temporary crowns, and the porcelain on porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns can chip and expose the metal. It does not give a single lifespan for all crowns, so ask your dentist what to expect for your material.

Questions to ask your dentist

Take these to your appointment.

• Is this tooth suited to a filling, or does it need a crown?
• Which material do you recommend, and why?
• How long should it last?
• What will it look like next to my other teeth?
• What are the signs that it is failing?

Frequently asked questions