A recently published article has highlighted the large variability and multitude of uses for composite resin in restoring broken down teeth. The writer said that “Current treatment protocols and recent developments in composite resin technology allow for extended indication of direct composite resin restorations.” The important aspect of this article is the long-term period of observation the writer has of more than 1o years. This is a vital piece of evidence, was lacking when comparing composite to metal amalgam restorations that have been used in our profession for more than 100 years.
My experience is similar to the one published in this article. I daily restore teeth using the materials with the most robust research and evidence to achieve long lasting results.
Many times I’m approached by patients who come to me, thinking that they need a crown because the tooth is badly broken down, has a large restoration or following a root canal treatment. But a weakened tooth may not benefit from a crown, especially so, if after the tooth reduction for the crown, there is little left of the tooth.
In conclusion the new materials available to us now can restore the teeth in a predictable way for many years. Placing a crown on the tooth can deteriorate it’s condition instead of protection it. If you were told that you need a crown on your tooth please come and see us, to check if it is the best option for you.