Dental crowns are often recommended by your dentist because they are the best option to extend the life of your teeth. According to Coulee Family Dental in La Crosse, WI, crowns act as large fillings to strengthen any tooth that does not have enough healthy, surrounding tooth to hold a normal filling. It will prevent the recurrence of tooth decay on the filling and remaining tooth and prevent more serious procedures, such as a root canal, in the future. 

If you are unsure if your tooth needs a crown, here are some circumstances when one would be better for the future health of your tooth than a filling:

• When The Filling Would Be Sizeable: If your dentist notices that a filling would need to be placed around more than half of the bulk area or surface area of the tooth above the gum line, a crown would be more sensible. This is because at this rate, the filling could leak and cause a greater chance of tooth decay to reoccur.
• When The Tooth Is Seriously Weakened: If the tooth in question has a crack or other deformities that have caused it wear, a crown is a much better option than a filling. 
• When The Filling Goes Under The Gum Line: It is much more difficult for a dentist to perform a filling under the gum line of the tooth. A filling is also much more likely to begin leaking under these circumstances within a year or two of being placed. 
• When A Tooth Has A Root Canal: Any back tooth that has a root canal should be crowned as these teeth are prone to becoming brittle once the nerve is gone. Also, any front teeth with a root canal and a filling would be better off with a crown as well.
• When Decay Is At The Gum Line: Any teeth that have tooth decay along the gum line should be crowned as it is almost impossible to repair this level of decay with a filling alone. 

If you have teeth that are no longer being helped with fillings, schedule an appointment with Coulee Family Dental today. Call (608) 782-3102 to speak with one of their trusted staff members about the benefits of crowns, or visit them online to learn more about the other dental services they provide to families in the La Crosse area.