Why Not do a Filling? Because …

 Broken tooth/filling-placing a large filling on a broken tooth may add more stress onto the tooth and cause it to break and be irreparable.

Cracked tooth-a crack can be above or below the gum line. A crack above the gum line can be restored with a crown restoration. A filling cannot restore the crack. "A crack below the gum line may mean the need for root canal treatment or possibly extraction," says Dr. Anna Lee.

Large filling-replacing a filling on a tooth that is larger than the original filling may cause it to break or fracture.

Tooth decay-depending on the size or location of the tooth decay, a filling may be the choice of the restoration. If the filling breaks or fails, a crown restoration is the appropriate treatment.

Teeth that have had root canal treatment can become weak and brittle, meaning they can break easily. Restoring the tooth with a filling is usually a temporary treatment. A crown restoration is the final treatment.