How does a dental crown strengthen a tooth? When are crowns a better choice than dental fillings?
The strengthening capability of dental crowns is related to the fact that they cup over and encase the tooth on which they are placed. This means that a crown can act as a splint that binds a tooth together. This is a very important feature of dental crowns and one that makes them a very valuable type of restoration for a dentist to have available to them. In contrast, dental fillings, especially large ones, can have a weakening effect on the teeth in which they are placed. Dental fillings rely on a tooth’s remaining structure to hold and support them. Fillings, in general, don’t strengthen a tooth and can’t protect a tooth from the forces generated by biting and chewing. If only a small amount of tooth decay is present then it’s usually no problem for a dentist to make a repair for a patient by way of placing a dental filling. In these cases there will still be a substantial amount of healthy tooth structure remaining after the decay has been removed and the filling has been put in pl
