Alternatives to Dental Crowns

When a dentist gives you the news that you need a crown, it is right to wonder if that is the only alternative. Many people want to delay getting the crown or want to opt for a less expensive approach. Alternative methods may work, but unfortunately, the results may be only short-term, according to Martin S. Spiller, D.M.D.

What is a Dental Crown?

• The crown of your tooth is the white portion above the gum line. When your natural crown gets decayed, broken from grinding or trauma or if your natural crown is discolored or malformed, your dentist may recommend you get a dental crown. According to Animated-Teeth.com, a dental crown is the only technique that completely covers a tooth. For that reason, there is no perfect equivalent to a dental crown. You do have other options, although they may entail some risk. You need to discuss thoroughly these options with your dentist before making a decision.

Alternatives

• Your first option is to simply delay any treatment. While you may be able to get away with this in some cases, if you already have decay or if your tooth is broken to where it is trapping food and plaque, you may wind up with a more serious condition that the crown would have prevented. You may even lose your tooth completely if you delay.

  Another option is to get a second opinion. Another dentist may have a different set of skills or a different opinion if you need a crown or not.

  You may be able to temporize the tooth, meaning that you can have a temporary restoration while you are waiting for a better time to have the crown work done.

  Sometimes people opt for a filling instead of a crown. According to Animated-Teeth.com, this works well for some people; however, this solution does not prevent you from possibly needing a crown later on. If a large portion of your tooth needs filling, a better solution is usually the crown. Dental fillings do not give you the same kind of protection as crowns do. In addition, if the filling is too large, it may cause your tooth to break, rendering it irreparable.

  There is always the option of extracting the tooth. This is usually a very bad choice, according to Animated-Teeth.com. They explain that when you pull a tooth, the neighboring teeth tend to shift. This results in a misalignment of your teeth, which can lead to chewing difficulty or jaw problems. You can put in an artificial replacement tooth; however, this will cost you more than the dental crown.