Do You Need a Dental Crown? Here's How to Tell

You probably need a crown if a tooth is badly broken down, cracked, or has just had root canal treatment, and a filling would not hold. The only way to be sure is an examination, but there are a few clear signs worth knowing.

A crown is a custom-made cap that fits over a damaged tooth to rebuild its shape and strength. It is one of the more common restorations in dentistry, and yet most people are not sure when they actually need one. Here is how to tell, and what to expect if you do.

What a dental crown does

When a tooth is too damaged for a filling but still has a healthy root, a crown protects what is left. It is made to match your other teeth in shape and colour, then fixed over the prepared tooth so you can bite and chew normally again. Materials range from porcelain and ceramic to metal, and the right choice depends on which tooth it is and how much force it takes.

Signs you might need a crown

A large filling that keeps failing

If a tooth has been filled repeatedly and the filling keeps breaking down, there may not be enough solid tooth left to hold another one. A crown wraps the whole tooth rather than plugging a hole.

A cracked or broken tooth

A crack lets bacteria in and can spread under pressure. A crown holds the tooth together and takes the load off the weak point.

After root canal treatment

A tooth that has had root canal treatment is more brittle than a living one, especially at the back of the mouth where chewing forces are high. A crown is often what stops it fracturing later.

Pain, sensitivity or trouble chewing

Ongoing sensitivity, or discomfort when you bite, can point to a tooth that needs more than a filling. It is worth getting looked at rather than waiting for it to break.