Crown vs. Filling
The deciding factor is not the size of the cavity, it is how much healthy tooth remains.
When a filling is enough
Small to moderate decay in a tooth with strong surrounding walls is ideally treated with a bonded composite filling. It is conservative, quick and affordable.
When you need a crown
If decay or an old filling has undermined the cusps, a filling will eventually flex and the tooth will crack. A crown wraps the tooth and holds it together.
The middle ground
An onlay covers only the damaged cusps rather than the whole tooth, preserving more natural structure than a full crown.
Why it matters
A cracked tooth can go from restorable to extraction very quickly. Choosing coverage at the right moment often saves the tooth entirely.
Written by the team at Uptown Dentistry, led by Dr. Nicki Tajalli, DDS, in Uptown Houston. This article is general information, not a substitute for an exam.