{"id":334,"date":"2022-08-09T14:03:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T14:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/?p=334"},"modified":"2025-04-18T18:53:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T18:53:51","slug":"crowns-and-fillings-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/2022\/08\/09\/crowns-and-fillings-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental Crowns and Fillings: What\u2019s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AdobeStock_246344306__1___1665497330_54274.jpg\" alt=\"woman smiling after getting crowns and fillings in Oklahoma City\" class=\"wp-image-335\" style=\"width:311px;height:207px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AdobeStock_246344306__1___1665497330_54274.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AdobeStock_246344306__1___1665497330_54274-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AdobeStock_246344306__1___1665497330_54274-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Do you have a damaged or decayed tooth? If so, your dentist may have suggested that you get a dental crown or filling. Both are excellent ways to restore the function and appearance of your smile! While they may seem like similar treatments, they\u2019re actually quite different and each serves a unique purpose. Read on as your dentist in Oklahoma City explains the difference between dental crowns in fillings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are Dental Crowns?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/restorative-dentistry.html\">dental crown<\/a> is a tooth-shaped cap that\u2019s placed over a tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, and appearance. Each one is custom-made and designed to encase the entire visible portion of your tooth, from the gum line up to the chewing surface. Dental crowns are a great option for patients because they have a high success rate and can easily last between five to fifteen years with proper care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are Dental Fillings?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/restorative-dentistry.html\">dental filling<\/a> is primarily used to address minor damage, like a cavity or chip. It helps seal off places where bacteria can get in, preventing further damage and decay. Dental fillings are an effective solution to repair teeth while preserving most of the tooth\u2019s structure. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Difference Between Dental Crowns and Fillings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though dental crowns and fillings seem like interchangeable treatments, they\u2019re actually pretty different. Let\u2019s take a look at some factors that make each option unique:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Purpose: <\/strong>Dental crowns cover a tooth completely to restore severe damage or decay. The restoration is able to withstand a high level of chewing pressure without risk of damage. Meanwhile, a filling is only used to repair minor issues like chips, cracks, gaps, or cavities. It provides additional structural stability to prevent further damage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost: <\/strong>Crowns are generally more expensive because the procedure takes a bit longer than fillings, which only require one visit. It\u2019s worth noting that the cost of each service can vary based on the materials used.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Procedure: <\/strong>For dental crown placement, your dentist will file down the tooth to ensure the restoration fits properly. Because it\u2019s an irreversible procedure, it\u2019s only performed when a tooth is damaged or decayed beyond repair. Patients with mild cases may benefit from a filling instead.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re having trouble deciding which option is right for your smile, don\u2019t hesitate to ask your dentist for help. At the end of the day, they\u2019re most qualified to recommend the best solution for your oral health!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About the Practice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Mitchell Smile Design of Oklahoma City, we offer high-quality, personalized, and comprehensive services for families in Oklahoma City and in surrounding communities. Our team is passionate about helping everyone achieve and maintain their very best smiles. If you\u2019d like to learn more about the differences between dental crowns and fillings, don\u2019t hesitate to reach out. You can make an appointment via our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or call <strong>(405) 755-2670<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you have a damaged or decayed tooth? If so, your dentist may have suggested that you get a dental crown or filling. Both are excellent ways to restore the function and appearance of your smile! While they may seem like similar treatments, they\u2019re actually quite different and each serves a unique purpose. Read on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=334"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":432,"href":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334\/revisions\/432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mitchellsmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}