If your tooth cracks, then your dentist may suggest that a dental crown be placed on your tooth. However, some people try to put off expensive crown procedures in favor of less expensive and less aggressive treatments like the placement of fillings or bonding materials. While these treatments are certainly cheaper and easier, it is not often wise to put off a crown procedure. Keep reading to find out why.

The Tooth May Continue To Break

When a tooth cracks or breaks in some way, your dentist will look at the size of the break to determine if a filling can be used to repair the tooth. Also, the location of the break and the needed repair will be examined closely. If a small portion of the biting edge has been chipped away, then the tooth can be repaired. However, if a large part of the tooth breaks off and leaves a hole behind, then tooth stiffness and strength are compromised. Tooth stiffness, which is often measured when tooth strength is considered, can reduce by as much as about 63% if a slim portion of the middle section is broken off. 

If strength and stiffness are compromised by a percentage over 50%, then there is a good chance that the tooth will break even further. If the tooth is also a molar or premolar that must sustain the most stress and pressure, then the tooth may fail relatively quickly after a simple repair is made. 

When a break occurs in the future, then too much of the tooth may be lost. This may result in the need for an extraction. This is best avoided with the placement of a crown. 

The Tooth Is Likely To Become Brittle After Root Canal Treatment

Large tooth breaks will often lead to root canal treatment. Tooth breaks are often the result of large cavities that work their way into the middle sections of the teeth. The break itself may damage the internal pulp as well. In some cases, the dental damage can cause a great deal of tooth sensitivity. If your tooth continues to throb, then a root canal may be completed to sever the nerve that is causing your discomfort. 

Once a root canal is performed, your tooth will be significantly weaker than it once was. A dental crown can be used to protect the brittle and weak tooth in a way that the biting edge is no longer exposed; a filling is not enough to protect your weak tooth. In some cases, your dentist will suggest a metal and porcelain infused crown to give your tooth as much strength as possible. This can greatly reduce the chances that your tooth will need to be extracted in the future.